The Braille Monitor
Vol.
38, No. 6
June 1995
Barbara Pierce, Editor
Published in inkprint, in Braille,
on cassette and
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The National Federation of the Blind
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THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES
ISSN 0006-8829
Contents
Vol. 38, No. 6 June 1995
CLOVERNOOK TRIES AND FAILS TO CORNER THE MARKET ON BRAILLE MAGAZINES by Kenneth Jernigan
DULUTH LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND TAKES A BATH AND FINDS ITSELF IN HOT WATER
MORE OF THE SAME AT THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
ACHIEVING A DREAM WITH THE HELP OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND by Buna Dahal
TIPPING, THE RIGHT THING
TO DO
by Shawn Jacobson
ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY: FROM
A SHELTERED WORKSHOP TO MY FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION
by Jeffrey J. Treptow
OBJECTIONS TO BLINDNESS RULES MOUNT
NEW BOOK AVAILABLE
by Barbara Pierce
A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN
LITERACY
by Bennett Prows
CHICAGO PROFILE
by Bob Herguth
CHICAGO NOTEBOOK
by Stephen O. Benson
Copyright 1995 National Federation of the Blind
[LEAD PHOTOS/CAPTIONS:] May 16-17, 1995, Canadian and U.S. delegates assembled at the National Center for the Blind in Baltimore for the spring meeting of the North America/Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union. They gathered in front of the main entrance during a break in the afternoon session May 16.
[Photo #1: Portrait Caption: Frank Kurt Cylke, Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped]
[Photo #2: Portrait Caption: William Raeder, Executive Director of National Braille Press]
[Photo #3: Portrait Caption: Tuck Tinsley, President of the American Printing House for the Blind]
[Photo #4: Kenneth Jernigan stands in front of the TED 600 Braille embosser and pushes the run button. Caption: Kenneth Jernigan operates the TED 600 Braille embosser in the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind]
CLOVERNOOK TRIES AND FAILS TO CORNER THE MARKET ON BRAILLE MAGAZINES
by Kenneth Jernigan
On March 28, 1995, a meeting occurred at the headquarters of
the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped of the Library of Congress on Taylor Street in
Washington, D.C. It might on the surface have appeared to be a
run-of-the-mill gathering of government officials, private
agencies, and blind consumers--undramatic and soon forgotten. But
such was not the case. In its own way this meeting exemplified
most of the problems now current in the blindness field:
budgetary constraints, shifting political balances, new
alignments, and the search for innovative initiatives and
solutions. And there was drama. In the ebb and flow of the polite
exchanges and measured phrases, there were both strain and the
threat of future conflict.
To understand the implications, one needs a certain amount
of background. To begin with, there is a federal organism called
the Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or Severely
Disabled, ordinarily simply referred to as the Committee for
Purchase. This committee determines what products the federal
government will buy from sheltered workshops and is composed of
fifteen members. Some of these members serve because they are
employed by certain federal agencies: Department of Defense,
Department of Labor, Department of Justice, etc.; and some serve
because they are appointed by the President of the United States.
The Committee (the Executive Director of which is Ms. Beverly
Milkman) puts items that it decides the federal government should
purchase from sheltered shops on a list called the Procurement
List. Items on the Procurement List are not put out for
competitive bid but are bought directly from the approved
sheltered shop.
The Committee for Purchase works through two private,
nonprofit organizations--National Industries for the Blind (NIB),
and National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH). The
law which makes all of this possible was passed in 1938 and was
known as the Wagner-O'Day Act. Purchases made under the Act were
limited to workshops for the blind. In 1972 Senator Jacob Javits
offered an amendment to the Wagner-O'Day Act (subsequently known
as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act) providing that purchases should
also be made from sheltered shops for the severely handicapped.
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is a separate,
identifiable organization, serving as the intermediary between
sheltered shops and the Committee for Purchase. It awards
contracts to sheltered shops and is largely composed of sheltered
shop officials. It has a paid staff, the recently appointed
Executive Director being Judy Peters, and it takes five percent
of every contract it gives to a sheltered shop.
All of this may seem far removed from the March 28 meeting
called by NLS, but such is not the case. And there is more. The
organization which many of us used to think of merely as the
Clovernook Printing House for the Blind (an organization which
produced Braille books and magazines) was always more than that.
From 1934 to 1955 it was a regional library for the blind in the
Library of Congress network. Originally it was a home for blind
women, and it later became (as it is today) a sheltered workshop.
Its official name is now the Clovernook Center--Opportunities for
the Blind; and it is, as it always has been, located in
Cincinnati.
For a long time Clovernook has bid in the competition to
produce Braille magazines for the National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress
(NLS), and it has always received some of the contracts. This is
partly true because Clovernook has often submitted the low bid,
some say because of the sub-minimum wages it pays its blind
workers--but there are other factors. NLS feels that it is
desirable to have as many organizations as possible producing
Braille and competing for the business. There would be obvious
disadvantages to having only one or two Braille producers, with
the leverage that such a monopoly would permit. Be that as it
may, there have always been competitive bids.
But this year a new wrinkle was added. Clovernook served
notice that it intended (and it has the right to do this because
of its status as a sheltered shop) to request the Committee for
Purchase to remove Braille magazines from the competitive bidding
system and place a large number of them on the Procurement List.
Thus it would have a monopoly. Obviously this would hurt other
Braille producers and might even drive some of them out of
business. Although Clovernook's prices might initially be
reasonable, the damage to other Braille producers and the
possible ultimate monopoly caused alarm bells to ring.
So the groundwork was laid, and the stage was set. It only
remained for the situation to be formalized, and that was
accomplished by a letter from Dr. Gerald Mundy (Clovernook's
Executive Director) to Mr. Frank Kurt Cylke, Director of NLS:
Cincinnati, Ohio January 16, 1995
Dear Mr. Cylke:
I wish to inform you that the Clovernook Center--
Opportunities for the Blind is taking the necessary steps for
placement of the magazine production work performed under
contract with the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped on the federal Procurement List as
provided for under the provisions of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act.
This decision has been reached after thorough consideration of
our agency's options concerning continuation of employment
opportunities for the consumers we serve.
As you know, Clovernook has a long history of providing
quality and timely Braille magazine production for NLS.
Throughout that history the NLS/Clovernook cooperative effort has
produced high-volume, high-quality Braille for NLS patrons. In
turn, this cooperative effort has provided ongoing employment for
the more than fifty people who are visually impaired and multiply
disabled within Clovernook's Braille printing operation.
Beginning with the contracts for 1993, magazine-production awards
were made strictly on price with a new costing method; quality
and timely delivery were no longer factored in the award formula.
As a result Clovernook lost a large percentage of the magazine
work that was providing employment to the people we serve.
Beginning in January, 1993, Clovernook was forced to lay off
eleven people who are blind and multidisabled from its bindery
operation. Given that Clovernook's mission is that of offering
employment opportunities to people with visual impairments, we
have concluded that the course of action we are pursuing is the
only option that will assure Clovernook sufficient on-going
employment opportunities for those we serve in our braille
printing operation.
We will be requesting the National Industries for the Blind
to provide the President's Committee For Purchase From People Who
Are Blind or Severely Handicapped all necessary information for
placement of our 1995 magazine production work on the federal
Procurement List. Please be assured that we continue to be
committed to excellence in our Braille magazine production and to
meeting the performance specifications of the NLS for quality and
on-time delivery that you have become accustomed to in dealing
with the Clovernook Center.
Sincerely, Gerald W. Mundy, Ed.D. Executive Director
Dr. Mundy's formal letter brought a formal response, but
perhaps not the one he expected. The occasion was the annual NLS
meeting of Braille producers--usually scantily attended, but not
this time. There was a full house, and a court reporter to take a
verbatim transcript.
Much of what follows is taken from that transcript with only
enough editing to remedy the phrasing, eliminate redundancy, and
smooth out the more obvious grammatical misadventures--my own as
well as those of others. The meeting started at 9:30 in the
morning, and Mr. Cylke began by saying that there were
microphones on the table and in the audience and that a
stenographer was taking a transcript of the meeting. He then
introduced those present: Dr. Tuck Tinsley and others from the
American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville; Ms. Pat
Johnson and others from Associated Services for the Blind,
Philadelphia; Mr. Geoffrey Bull from Braille International,
Stuart, Florida; Mr. William Raeder and Ms. Eileen Curran from
the National Braille Press, Boston; Dr. Gerald Mundy and others
from Clovernook, Cincinnati; Mr. Joe Sullivan from Duxbury
Systems, Littleton, Massachusetts; and representatives from
National Industries for the Blind and the Committee for Purchase.
In addition, a number of NLS staff members were present, as was
an observer from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Finally, James Gashel and I were there representing the National
Federation of the Blind. If others were present, I am unaware of
it.
When the preliminaries were finished, Mr. Cylke began the
meeting as follows:
Opening Comments
This Braille Producers Meeting is, as you know, normally
held every year. Because of some extenuating circumstances we did
skip a year, but we are back on schedule. I believe you are all
aware of the first item on the agenda, but for those who aren't,
let me read you a letter that I wrote to Jerry Mundy on the 17th
of January:
Dear Dr. Mundy:
I am writing with reference to our telephone conversation of
last Thursday when you informed me of plans to have production of
Library of Congress Braille magazines placed on the Procurement
List of the Committee for Purchase from People Who are Blind or
Severely Disabled. This letter is to ask that you attend the
Braille producers meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, here
in Washington. At that time I suggest that you present your plans
and address the impact of such action on the community of Braille
production facilities and on individual readers of Braille
magazines. As there is no more important topic currently under
discussion, I am sure you will have a large and attentive
audience. [Which you do.]
If you agree, I will ask Lois Mandelberg to place you on the
agenda for 9:00 a.m. You may consider the time as open, with no
constraints.
That letter was carboned to several people, including most
of the people in this room. But, for Geoff Bull, who wasn't
onboard at that time and for others, that sets the stage for this
meeting.
Bill Price, who is head of our business operation here; Brad
Kormann; and I met with Beverly Milkman some time ago. I believe
approximately a month ago. And we asked that any action to place
the magazines being produced by Clovernook on the List be
deferred or at least held until we had this meeting, where Jerry
Mundy could bring to you his reasons for doing so. We indicated
that everyone who was a producer at this time was a not-for-
profit for-the-blind organization. While they didn't fall under
the rubric of the committee, it seemed to us that there certainly
would be an impact. I won't go into the details of what those
impacts are, but there would be an impact on them. And there
would also be an impact on the blind community through the
increased costs and related probable cuts of the magazines that
will be produced. Ms. Milkman agreed to that, and I indicated
that I would send a transcript, an unedited transcript, of the
conversations that would be held at the meeting. That is why we
have a court stenographer here. He will be here through the whole
day, but he will produce two documents: one of the first part of
the agenda through noon, or whenever we complete our work--and
then the second. The first piece will be transmitted to Beverly
at that point.
Yesterday Jerry called and asked if he could show a video,
and we said, yes, of course, he could if he would like.
I turn the meeting over to you, Jerry, at this point.
Comments by Dr. Mundy
Dr. Mundy: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
First of all, just to express our thanks for John and
Charlotte and myself for having the opportunity to be here today.
This is the first producers meeting that I have attended. I know
I have had staff attend meetings here in the past, over the
years. And of course, as you know, Charlotte [that would be
Charlotte Begley] has been very much involved in the Braille
authority as well in terms of our representation there for a
number of years, and we have had other staff prior to Charlotte
being involved. So, delighted to be here today.
One of the reasons that I brought along the videotape was
that I thought it would be an opportunity for us to present our
organization to you in sort of a concise way. It is an eleven-
minute videotape that we developed within the last year and a
half or so. We developed two tapes. These are developed as public
relations and education tools as well as a sales tool. The tape
that I would like to show you this morning is a good
representation of what we do at Clovernook and the products that
we produce at Clovernook. And since we are talking about Braille
production here, there is a segment of the tape that deals with
that aspect. And it will give you a good flavor, I think, for
what we do in our Braille printing house and who it is we employ,
because I think that is an important element of what we are
talking about here, at least from our perspective. Our major
mission at Clovernook is to employ people who are blind,
particularly those who are multi-disabled blind.
So if we have a person in the back there who would start the
tape. It has a good audio, so those of you who cannot see I think
should get quite a bit of it as well.
[Whereupon the videotape was shown. After this Dr. Mundy
said:]
That and the other video that we have produced are available
to anyone who wishes to either borrow them or keep them on file.
We will make them available to you for either purpose.
Moving along then to my comments. What I have done is, I
have a brief presentation here that I will read to you. It is
available in large print and in Braille. So those of you who wish
to take a copy of it with you are certainly welcome to a copy.
Also I noticed in the materials that are provided to all of
us here with the agenda, Mr. Cylke has provided correspondence
related to the Braille magazine program. And unless I missed it,
I don't believe the letter that I wrote to you originally was
included in there, Kurt, and if that letter was available to
people through you, that would be fine. Or I can make it
available if people would like.
Mr. Cylke: The letter that followed your telephone call?
Dr. Mundy: Pardon me?
Mr. Cylke: The letter that followed your telephone call?
Dr. Mundy: Yeah, that is it. But the original letter that I
sent to you regarding placing the magazines on the Procurement
List. That was dated January 16th. That is not included in the
packet. So if anyone would like to have a copy of that letter, I
would be happy to mail it to you if you want to leave a business
card with me or if you want to provide it, Kurt, whatever.
Let me just go ahead and present to you what we have
prepared here. It is brief. I have, as you know, John Mitchell,
our Director of Manufacturing, and Charlotte Begley, our
supervisor of transcription, of course, here as well. They can
answer questions in areas of detail that I cannot answer as well
as they. So certainly they will be free to enter into the
discussion on this as well, if you have questions at the end of
my presentation.
You will also notice that my presentation does not vary a
great deal from the letter that I wrote to Mr. Cylke back in
January. I think it is fairly straightforward. It presents why we
wish to place the magazines on the federal Procurement List. So
with that introduction I will go ahead and read this brief
presentation.
The mission at Clovernook Center is to provide
individualized training and opportunities for people who are
visually impaired, particularly those with additional
disabilities, to enable the attainment of an optimal quality of
life.
A little bit about our history. Clovernook was established
in 1903 by Florence and Georgia Trader as a residence for
homeless blind women. In addition to residential services,
Clovernook provided employment to the people that it served
through its workshop. One area of employment that Clovernook
developed was the translation and production of Braille reading
materials. In 1931 when the Library of Congress began providing
reading materials to citizens who are blind, Clovernook expanded
its Braille printing operation to produce books for this program.
As time went on, the program, which today is known as the
National Library Service, NLS, expanded the services provided to
include over twenty-five Braille periodicals and more than 300
Braille books annually. In response to the increased need for
low-cost, reliable Braille production for NLS, Clovernook
invested heavily in its Braille printing operation during the
1960's to increase its production capacity from seven million
Braille pages annually to over fifty million Braille pages
annually. This increase in capacity brought about a large
increase in employment opportunities within the printing
operation, whereby today Clovernook employs over forty-five
individuals who have visual impairments in the production of
Braille reading materials. Most of these individuals have
multiple disabilities.
Comment on recent changes: the Braille production work
performed by Clovernook for the National Library Service has
always been awarded on an annual basis through competitive bids.
Until the 1992 bid request, the awards were based on a formula
which factored in price, quality, and performance and timeliness
of delivery. It was a 40/30/30 basis respectively for those three
areas. Starting with Fiscal Year 1993, NLS dropped consideration
of quality and delivery through a point system in determination
of awards. Since this change Clovernook has seen a sharp drop in
the awards it receives for magazines from NLS and a corresponding
decrease in employment opportunities for people with visual
impairments. The loss of some magazines was by less than one
percent on the bid price, with prices being cut by producers as
much as 39 percent between 1992 and 1993 in order to win the
publication. If the formula for awards in 1992 had been used for
1993 work, Clovernook might have retained at least two magazines
that were awarded to other producers.
The NIB affiliation: Since 1979 Clovernook has been
associated with the National Industries for the Blind (NIB).
Through this affiliation we are able to place federal
procurements on set-aside, to provide employment opportunities
for people who are blind. This process falls under the Wagner-
O'Day Act of 1938 and then expanded to people with severe
disabilities by the Javits Amendment in 1970. Clovernook
currently produces nine different file folders for the Federal
Government under this legislation. Although we could have,
Clovernook did not elect to add work performed for NLS to this
Procurement List, this procurement process. Our reasons for not
doing this were twofold: (1) Pricing for the magazines was high
enough to cover our operating expenses and provide additional
revenues to help offset losses in other program areas, such as
rehabilitation, supported living, and community rehabilitation.
And number (2) NLS has a history of opposing attempts to
place items on set-aside under Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act.
And in summation, in light of Clovernook's mission of
providing employment opportunities as well as the change in the
NLS bid process and a changing market, we are now pursuing
placement of Braille magazine production work performed under
contract for NLS on Procurement List set-aside under the
provisions of JWOD.
And that is our statement. And if there are some questions?
Mr. Cylke: I would like just to make a comment, and then you
will notice on the agenda Bill Raeder has asked to make a
statement. I will then entertain statements from anyone else, and
we can enter into it.
Mr. Jernigan has just asked to be put on the List.
On February 24, 1995, Jerry, you wrote to Congressman Robert
Portman and included the same basic comment that you just did
about the quality and so forth. On March 2 you sent me a copy of
that letter and that statement, and on March 2 I addressed that
point. You had that from the second, for the last twenty-six days
or so. And I would like to read for the group the paragraph.
Those of you who have the package can see it, but those of you
who don't have it, it is not in Braille. And this is the
paragraph:
A review of the attachment by NLS staff indicates
that the document contains a mix of correct and
incorrect information. You are correct in stating that
the system of numerical rankings in paragraph M-1 of
the Braille magazine solicitation was changed, although
the change actually occurred for 1993, not 1992.
However, you are not correct in stating that NLS
dropped consideration of quality and delivery when
determining awards. Both are, in fact, considered when
evaluating a bidder's responsibility and production
capacity. A review of records indicates that the
technical determinations of Clovernook's capacity for
1990 through 1995 were not affected in any way by this
revision. Unless an agency had experienced difficulty
in the quality or delivery of Braille magazines in a
prior year which negatively impacted our estimate of
production capacity, the award of magazines was based
on the lowest bid up to the production capacity.
Clovernook had not experienced difficulty in Braille
magazine production during those years.
And then the letter goes on, the next paragraph saying, "The award of Braille magazines is consistent with the FAR, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and is awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. And the Clovernook history from 1990 to date is nineteen magazines in 1990, sixteen in '91, seventeen in '92, twelve in '93, seven in '94, and back to sixteen in '95." Bill Raeder, would you care to make your presentation?
Comments by Bill Raeder
Mr. Raeder: Thank you, Kurt.
Jerry, let me first address you. You and I have talked on
the phone about this since January 17. And we understand what you
are doing, and I want to say that we clearly interpret what you
are doing as being your interpretation of what is the best
interest of Clovernook and that you are not doing this for the
purposes of hurting National Braille Press or other agencies or
people whom we serve. And I appreciate the cooperative attitude
that you have had on the phone with me and the long-term good
relationship between our two agencies. I will say that in England
they define, for politicians, the word "friendship." Friendship
for politicians is those people who agree with you on a current
issue. Fortunately we are not politicians here. We are producers
of Braille books and agencies serving blind people with a mutual
interest. And whatever the outcome here, I expect that a
continuing friendship between our agencies will endure.
Notwithstanding that, you know and I know that, if your
proposal or application is accepted by the Committee, then other
agencies, at least National Braille Press, will be hurt. So I
have asked to be put on the agenda here to make a statement to
that effect, to expose the other side of the issue. And so we are
here to explain (if in fact Braille magazines must be put on the
Procurement List) how we feel that will hurt National Braille
Press and blind people at large.
My first argument is, indeed, that National Braille Press
would be hurt if the Committee were to adopt your proposal and
your application. Clovernook may be a sheltered workshop, but
Clovernook is not the only agency that hires blind people.
National Braille Press has had, as its policy and its practice
since our founding in 1927, to provide employment for blind
people. And this is done not only in the direct labor area, but
also in the management area. And it is done on a competitive
basis. Our blind employees are paid and hired on a competitive
basis with their sighted counterparts.
And if we go through our organizational chart, with respect
to those departments that relate to the production of Braille
magazines, including management, we can see where our employees
are indeed blind and where they are not. Starting with myself as
Executive Director of the National Braille Press, I am blind and
have been the Executive Director since 1975. To my right is
sitting Eileen Curran, who is our Director of Operations with the
responsibility for our Braille contracts and the supervision and
management of the whole production staff. She is blind. Her
assistant is the Assistant to the Director of Operations, who is
responsible for the input of these jobs, the administrative
intake of jobs, and the flow of the administrative work through
the job process, including scheduling and troubleshooting in the
production process, who is also blind. Our transcription
department at this time has no blind people in it. But it has had
at times in the past, and there is a possibility for that in the
future.
Our Braille proofreading department, as one might suppose,
is made up of all blind people. In our plate fabrication
department our PED operator is blind. Our pressing, both print
and Braille, at this time does not happen to have any blind
members, but there have been in the past and could well be in the
future. And our collating, packaging, and shipping department is
made up substantially of blind people and has been historically.
Some thirteen out of twenty-two employees, or better than 50
percent of our employees who are involved in the production of
Braille magazines for NLS or elsewhere, are legally blind.
Now some of these people are being hurt, have been hurt in
the recent round of bidding here at NLS for NLS magazines. In
spite of the fact that we know paper costs and other costs have
gone up, presumably labor costs have gone up. And for the most
part prices and bids on NLS magazines have gone up. By
Clovernook's own acknowledgement, you have bid aggressively in
this last round and won a large share of the magazines. Counting
dollars rather than magazine titles, my understanding is that
this year you have won 69 percent of the magazine dollar contract
from NLS versus 39 percent last year, versus 48 percent average
over the prior five years, prior to this. And so 69 percent is a
significant increase over the five-year history, and NBP has been
hurt. We were almost put out of the NLS magazine business.
And our blind employees are hurt. We have had to reduce
hours on the part of six employees, six blind employees. And, in
fact, if it were not for the employees themselves, some of them
would have been laid off. But they got together and said, rather
than laying some off, which would be very hurtful to have a
paycheck totally cut out, let's all, in one department, reduce
our hours so that nobody needs to suffer the ultimate ax.
However, in spite of that, one person we did have to lay off
altogether, and that person has totally lost their paycheck. So
blind people elsewhere benefit from the work provided by NLS. And
I don't like to see our people hurt. I don't like to see
Clovernook's people hurt. But I don't want to see the particular
hurt that comes out of the aggressive bidding of Clovernook in
this past year made permanent.
A second argument is that there is already provision in the
law whereby Clovernook has favorable treatment in the bidding
process at NLS. As does NBP and as does each and every non-profit
agency interested in serving blind people. And that law (which is
it?) 89-522, is implemented by NLS by providing a 10 percent cost
or 10 percent price bidding handicap to agencies that are non-
profit and are serving blind people. So there is already this
benefit in the law that provides us agencies serving blind people
with a handicap against the broad commercial market that might be
interested in bidding for government work.
I don't believe that the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act or 89-522
was designed to benefit one agency or one group of blind people
over another. I believe that those laws were implemented to
provide blind people with a benefit as a whole, not to set some
of us off in penalty against the benefits gained by others. And
so I think, therefore, that in keeping with those two laws it
would be inappropriate to add this additional handicap.
A third argument is that we are not here about file folders
or military supplies or other goods and services that are
necessary in the running of our government. We are talking about
Braille magazines, which are mandated by Congress as a direct
service from our taxpayers to the blind citizens of our country.
And the government contracts with us to produce those goods,
Braille magazines. And the budget, as we all know, is very
limited for that Braille production. And in the current Congress
it is likely to be at least as limited in the immediate future.
And it is my understanding from talking with Beverly Milkman at
the Committee, that, if this proposal is adopted, NLS will be
required to pay approximately five percent more for the magazines
in order to pay the fee of NIB for the monitoring of the work at
Clovernook to assure that quality and prices are in line.
I believe there is an additional dollar cost because, as I
think we producers all know, the competitive bidding process has
been an effective mechanism to maintain price control. To the
credit of NLS, back in the '70's the agency here, NLS, developed
a longer list of vendors than they previously had so that there
could be some very real competition. And now there are basically
five of us that compete for these magazines. And the bidding, as
we all know, has been tough. And that is a means of controlling
price. If these magazines are taken off the open market for
bidding and put on the Procurement List, they will no longer be
subject to the direct price control of the marketplace. Yes, they
will be subject, as I understand it, and I don't pretend to
understand it fully by any means, but yes, they will be subject
to monitoring by NIB to see that the price continues to be in
line. But that monitoring, I think we must recognize, by NIB, is
not being done by what is, I think we can suppose, a totally
disinterested party. And so, therefore, I can only conclude that
the prices that NLS will be paying for magazines will be hampered
some if these magazines are put on the Procurement List.
And so for these reasons--the surcharge of whatever it is,
approximately five percent--plus the lack of direct price control
by the marketplace, is going to cause a cost increase in the NLS
Braille magazines. Now given the tight budget, what does this
mean? It doesn't mean taxpayers are going to pay more. It means
Braille readers are going to get less. And I do not believe that
that was the intent of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act: that services
be decreased to blind people.
Now I started with my first argument that NBP would be hurt.
And actually there is another way in which NBP would be hurt. We,
like, I suppose, Clovernook and the other producers, gain
strength from the work that we do at National Braille Press. It
provides us with a body of work that supports the production
structure, the staffing pattern, the machinery, and plant onto
which we can piggyback our other work. We don't really make any
profit on the Braille magazines, but it does provide the
structure that keeps the plant really rolling because NLS is our
largest single customer.
Now we have been using that strength to conduct our own
publishing program and direct service to blind people. And the
books that we have been publishing are designed to provide
practical information that helps blind people prepare themselves
for opportunity and challenge in life: cookbooks, helping cooks
to cook or parents to parent or computer operators to use their
computers or books to inspire people who are not computer
operators to get started and books on employment. Our Take
Charge: A Strategic Guide for Blind Job Seekers, published in
Braille a few years ago, won the President's Committee book
award. So the strength that we have gained from the Braille
magazine production has redoubled, so to speak, by strengthening
our publishing program in direct service to blind people.
In my conversation with Beverly Milkman, I became aware that
she was concerned with fairness and how her committee makes the
decision. And although we clearly advocate that no magazines be
put on the Procurement List, because the provisions of the Act
are covered by 89-522 in terms of giving some benefit to blind
people and because we don't want to hurt some blind people for
the benefit of others, it is possible that her committee may
decide against what we advocate and in favor of what Clovernook
is asking. And if that happens, then fairness changes. Fairness
now, and how the work is distributed to those of us who produce,
is guided by the marketplace and by the rigor with which NLS
conducts the bidding process. If magazines are to be put on the
Procurement List, then fairness becomes a subjective decision on
the part of the Committee. And I would like to say that, if it
comes to that, then Clovernook ought not to get the 69 percent
that they gained this year because of aggressive bidding, but
rather the average of what they have gotten, say over the last
five years--48 percent. And they ought not to get the magazines
on which others have been competitive, but get the work on which
Clovernook has traditionally been competitive.
So, in conclusion, because of the very nature of this
product, a direct service to blind people, and because of the
very nature in which the product is being produced by agencies
serving blind people, such as National Braille Press with over 50
percent of the people involved in this production being blind
people, [we urge] that the Committee in its wisdom decide that it
is not necessary to put these magazines on the Procurement List
in order to benefit blind people.
We have read the notice put in the Federal Register by the
Committee, and we intend to respond to their invitation for
further information. And we intend to respond by direct
communication in addition to what Mr. Cylke is providing, the
minutes of these meetings, to express our concern.
And, Jerry, let me close by saying I appreciate your
forthrightness, and that is a good ingredient in our interagency
communications. And so I appreciate the opportunity, Kurt, to
come here and express my own forthrightness as to how NBP would
be hurt and what we have advocated. Thank you.
Mr. Cylke: Thank you. Are there any producers who would like
to make a statement before we enter into a discussion?
Geoff Bull, did I see you raise your hand?
Comments by Geoffrey Bull
Mr. Bull: Yes, please, Mr. Cylke. Since I would like to make
my presentation and questions directed to Mr. Mundy, perhaps I
can move down the table. Okay. Thank you. Jerry, first of all,
could you tell me when you decided to submit this proposal?
Dr. Mundy: Well, as we notified Mr. Cylke in January of our
intent to place these magazines on the federal Procurement List,
that decision did not come about quickly. You know, we had given
a good deal of serious thought to this for quite a long period of
time prior to finally making the decision and then my discussion
with Kurt on the phone.
Mr. Bull: Okay. This was my thought, that you had been
discussing this for a long time and--
Dr. Mundy: Not an easy decision.
Mr. Bull: This seemed a very opportune time to make the
application. This recent increase in Braille, I note, brings you
up to a point that you haven't reached for five years? Is that
right? I believe you have not been at this level of magazine
production for the past five years.
Dr. Mundy: For four years. Historically, I think as we all
know around the table, Clovernook has done the lion's share of
the Braille magazine business. And as we pointed out in my brief
presentation, the two years prior to this current contract year
have been quite a bit below that area. And that is what really--
Mr. Bull: I am taking Mr. Raeder's figure as 1990 to allow
for this level. Could you tell me, Mr. Mundy, a little bit about
your handicapped-staff percentages? What percentage of your staff
relating to magazine production are handicapped?
Dr. Mundy: John will speak to that since he supervises that
area.
Mr. Mitchell: The Braille Production Department is comprised
of three main departments: the first being the transcription,
which is a consolidation of both transcription and proofreading.
That department currently has twenty-one employees, eleven of
which are blind. The press operation room has six employees.
Currently there is one individual in that operation that is
blind. And then the binding operation has approximately thirty-
five employees, all of which but one are blind, thirty-four out
of thirty-five.
Mr. Bull: So you have forty-six out of about sixty-two, if
my mental arithmetic is keeping up here.
Mr. Mitchell: That is correct.
Mr. Bull: So that is approximately 75 percent in round
terms.
Mr. Mitchell: That is correct. And that includes supervisory
staff.
Mr. Bull: I am very pleased to hear that. I notice the note
of anguish, anxiety, and maybe a touch of anger in Mr. Raeder's
voice when he was going over the staff, the handicapped staff,
who may be affected by any radical change in magazine policy. I
share that anguish, that anxiety, and a little bit of the anger
when I look at my own staff. I, too, am blind, as the president
of the company, completely accountable to the board of directors
for the company's operation. I have only been in the chair for
the past month, and I am already reviewing a couple of very
strong candidates for middle management amongst our handicapped
staff. We have one handicapped member in the transcription
department. All the proofreaders are blind, our press, our plate-
embossing operator, who is a wonderful young man, very
productive, with the help of a very strong magnifier can just
read the screen from a few inches, so he can produce the correct
files. We don't have anyone in the press department at the
moment, but we are peeking into other areas, by taking people
from the Job Service Department, and we are also very much
involved with the schools who are bringing their severely
handicapped people into our production process on a job
experience basis.
We only have approximately 25, 28 percent of our staff who
are handicapped. Bill, I am aiming at your figures. They are
wonderful. Do you have any formula, any equation, any philosophy,
Jerry, that makes 75 percent of the staff applicable for
monopolistic status as opposed to 50 percent or 25 percent? What
is the formula here?
Dr. Mundy: Well, if we are talking about a formula that
relates to doing work under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, there is
a ratio of direct labor, blind direct labor related to sighted
direct labor, that one must meet in order to qualify under the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, produce under contract.
Mr. Bull: What is that, sir?
Dr. Mundy: Seventy-five percent.
Mr. Bull: Seventy-five percent. You have just about reached
the magic figure.
Dr. Mundy: Well, we--And the way it applies, too, Geoff, is
that it applies across the board in an organization; at least it
has with us for many years. We have always had to apply our blind
labor in our printing house against the total ratio in our
organization because we have contracts to produce the file
folders that you heard about a little earlier.
Mr. Bull: Right.
Dr. Mundy: So we have had to meet that ratio overall for our
total employees who work in the employment center.
Mr. Bull: So if Bill and I can get up to 75 percent, we can
make an application?
Dr. Mundy: That is correct. And I would encourage you to do
that.
Mr. Bull: Very good. Now the level of magazine production
that you are currently at, that is a satisfactory one for you as
far as remaining at that level indefinitely? Because presumably,
will you be part of the bidding process in the future?
Dr. Mundy: Well, I guess you are asking a couple of
questions there. The major reason that we wish to place these
magazines on the List is to stabilize our employment.
Mr. Bull: We would love to do that.
Dr. Mundy: Right. So what we are attempting to do now is to
do just that. Our employment dropped considerably in the two
previous years, and we had to lay something like eleven people
off. So that seriously concerns us. And so that is part of the
reason for pursuing the magazines. And then the second part of
your question was what, would you mind repeating it?
Mr. Bull: I have forgotten it, too. Oh, are you going to
bid?
Dr. Mundy: Oh, yes, thanks. In talking with Beverly Milkman,
at the Committee, it was her feeling that, if these magazines are
placed on the List, that we should not, that we should agree not
to bid on the other magazines.
Mr. Bull: You are giving the four of us the 30 percent to
squabble over.
Dr. Mundy: That was her statement to us. We have no problem
with that.
Mr. Bull: Generosity, Jerry.
Dr. Mundy: You asked the question; I understand.
Mr. Bull: What factors do you see were prevailing that
enabled you to come into the '95 magazine-bid process at several
percentage points below your previous bids? How were you able to
do this?
Dr. Mundy: You want to answer that?
Mr. Mitchell: Sure, I am the individual who is basically
responsible for the generation of bid information. And quite
frankly, we took the information that had been gathered over the
prior two years, established trends by the other producers and
how they were bidding the various publications, and established
what we believed to be a price that we could quote to assure that
we would win the work.
Mr. Bull: Was this a price that was economic?
Mr. Mitchell: As a package, it certainly is.
Mr. Bull: As a package it is.
Mr. Mitchell: That is correct.
Mr. Bull: So, therefore, why are you fearful of the
competitive process if you feel you can hold at these prices? Why
do you not stay with the competitive process? Because if you are
able to bid at this level and why you haven't bid before, I don't
fully understand, but why do you fear the competitive process?
Mr. Mitchell: Well, one thing again, that occurred, and if I
may I would just like to use Ladies Home Journal as an example of
the impact that we feel that the change in the awards formula for
the Fiscal Year 1993 publications had. Braille International at
that time had dropped their pricing 39 percent from 1992 to 1993
to gain control of that publication and then dropped it an
additional, I believe, 15 percent between 1993 and 1994 to retain
publication for an additional year.
Mr. Bull: I think that was probably related to the purchase
of a second Heidelberg Press, but I can't--
Mr. Mitchell: Well, to answer your question, I think that we
feel that this is a prerogative that Clovernook has. We realize,
too, that it has an impact; and, if it was Utopia, we would
prefer that this impact not take place. However, we have to be
concerned with Clovernook's interests and the employees of
Clovernook. And this is essentially why this action is being
taken.
Mr. Bull: I think what concerns me is either you put in a
bid below costs and chose that point in time to make your
application for the Javits-Wagner-O'Day. If that is the case,
then we must be aware of future trends. You put in a bid that you
feel you can hold to, and you have no fear of the competitive
process. Now whichever case that may be, I am concerned. If it
does mean that you put in a low bid and chose your moment in time
to make the application for the JWOD, then we have to be very
wary about any pricing increases in the future because, let's
face it, we have X number of dollars purchasing, X number of
dollars from the government potentially producing Braille
magazines. Now away from the competitive process, or indeed if
you put in a low bid here which you cannot hold to, that X is
going to increase and the X cents per page (two cents, three
cents, four, five, six, seven cents per page) will go up. If the
budget is fixed, the amount of Braille produced for the Braille
user is going to go down. And I think that is the aspect that
concerns me most here.
There are the ambition and motives of Clovernook, and some
of them I understand, but they are being put before the needs of
Braille and the Braille user. Braille is a very scarce and
precious commodity. We cannot jeopardize it through the ambitions
or motives of one producer. You cannot, you cannot jeopardize
Braille in this way. And I ask you to reconsider your
application, because I feel without the restraints of costs,
quality, and delivery--and as a Braille manager I know how well,
how wonderfully well this competitive process works in keeping
all three of those in check--without those restraints I feel
there will be a decrease in Braille. I have other points, but I
don't want to monopolize the floor at this point. Thank you.
Dr. Mundy: I would like to speak to the costs, the figures
that you are alluding to, Geoff, and that Bill mentioned a little
earlier. In terms of the...I believe it was stated something
about the increasing cost as a result of placing the magazines on
the Procurement List. And I would like John to just review for
you a little bit of what impact that would have.
John, would you like to--
Mr. Mitchell: Certainly. Just overall, for Fiscal Year 1994,
according to the attachment that was to Mr. Cylke's letter, which
was Braille magazine comparison of awards by producer and year:
if you will look at 1994, the total was $1,888,864. 1995 awards
dropped more than eight percent to $1,729,976. And the
information that Mr. Raeder had concerning the notion of a five
percent increase on the magazines that are in question with
Clovernook pursuing placement on the Procurement List is correct.
It still would come nowhere close to the level for the outlay for
1994.
Mr. Bull: Well, we are not comparing apples with apples
here. There are apples and oranges all mixed in here. What
essentially I am saying is, if there is any increase in cost,
particularly without those strengths of the competitive process,
we will have less Braille.
Mr. Cylke: I would say at this point let's see if there are
any other presentations, and then we can start the discussion
later.
Are there any other producers? Yes, ASB.
Ms. Johnson: Yes.
Mr. Cylke: And if you would just identify yourself for the
record.
Comments of Pat Johnson
Ms. Johnson: Pat Johnson, Associated Services for the Blind.
The mission of Associated Services for the Blind is to
promote the self-esteem, independence, and self-determination of
blind and visually impaired people, providing them with training,
education, materials, information, and support.
Over thirty years ago, before government involvement in the
Brailling of magazines, Associated Services for the Blind in
joint cooperation with the Curtis Publishing Company Brailled the
Ladies Home Journal, Jack and Jill, and Children's Digest. When
ASB was asked to surrender these magazines to the Library of
Congress National Library Service, the agency was assured they
would always have the opportunity to provide these magazines to
blind consumers. Since that time ASB has lived up to its part of
the agreement by continuing to purchase and update equipment for
translation and high-speed duplication and has continued to hire
blind and visually impaired people in its Braille department. At
present 50 percent of the staff that produce Braille magazines
are visually impaired.
The loss of revenues from Brailling magazines will have a
substantial effect on the operation of ASB's Braille department,
requiring drastic cuts. Many visually impaired staff will lose
their jobs. However, even though we see our losses to be
substantial, the greater loss would be involving people
throughout the United States. Once competition is removed in the
production of Braille magazines, we believe that service to the
end user will deteriorate. And forcing magazines out of the
Library of Congress National Library Service and making them
available under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act to agencies within
National Industries for the Blind, the wrong signal will be sent
to all blind people.
We would be encouraging blind and visually impaired people
to take employment in supported situations at minimum wages, with
dependence on government supplemental income, rather than
encouraging blind and visually impaired people to seek jobs at
competitive wages and benefits in the open job market.
We at Associated Services for the Blind are strongly opposed
to the action of the Clovernook Center. Such action will result
in a deterioration of service to blind people throughout this
country. And we see such an action as regressive in that it
encourages dependence, poor self-esteem, and condemns blind and
visually impaired people to the work life within a sheltered
workshop. We will do everything we can to prevent the
implementing of the proposal as we hear it today. Thank you.
Mr. Cylke: Thank you, Pat.
I want to ask if there are any printing houses: There is
one, would you care to make any comment?
Comments by Tuck Tinsley
Dr. Tinsley: I would like to start off just with a
statement. The fact, Jerry, that you are a trustee of APH, when I
asked you about the situation, if you understood the possible
crucial impact on the rest of us, you said that it was your
charge as Executive Director of Clovernook to present this
information to the Committee and then see what happens. That is
your charge. When I did sit at the table, I saw this letter to
Congressman Portman, which surprised me, which is a political
approach also. So personally I need to let you know that did
bother me when I saw that.
The non-profit organizations sitting around this table
provide products and services very necessary and do to a great
extent complement one another. NLS provides the books in
alternative formats and equipment. National Industries for the
Blind provides employment. That is your major focus. And the
others of us provide services and products and, believe it or
not, do provide employment opportunities for the blind. APH at
this point has over eighty disabled employees. It is important
for NIB to recognize and respect the significance of the very
limited contractual opportunities that the rest of us have to
provide products for fees. Mr. Raeder elegantly pointed out that
these are fees which are crucial in supporting the other valuable
services and important products, many of which are orphan
products, which we were all chartered to provide. That is the
reason we exist.
NLS provides us by far the largest opportunities, the
largest bulk of contractual opportunities. NLS has recognized the
significance of these contracts and with the 10-percent rule
gives preference to non-profits, whose true primary role (I do
say true primary role; I want to emphasize that) is to provide
services to the blind. The charters of APH and the other
organizations around the table are limited in the products that
we can provide. And we provide our services to a very limited,
finite population. My understanding is that NIB workshops are not
limited for the populations for which they can provide products.
The increase in the set-aside continues to chip away and has
taken a heavy toll on the others of us, APH included. We had the
six-cassette container. It is now in Mississippi. The four-
cassette container is now in Royal Maid, also Mississippi. IRS:
NIB has taken that, part of that, to Louisiana. We are talking
about magazines now. What is to stop NIB from setting up a tape-
duplication facility? As more and more are set aside, there is
less and less available for us. Not 15 percent impact, but 10
percent and 5 percent and 10 percent and 5 percent and 10 percent
and 10 percent. That is 50 percent, and soon we are gone. This is
and will be devastating if it continues, and it could leave us
with nothing available and nobody providing products and services
but NIB sheltered workshops. And that would be a sin. Thank you.
Mr. Cylke: Thank you, Tuck. Mr. Jernigan, you asked for
time.
Comments by Kenneth Jernigan
Dr. Jernigan: It has been a most refreshing kind of
conversation, and candid. Very rarely do I ever hear anybody
speak as directly and unequivocally as I have heard. It was
several decades ago, I guess--Dr. Mundy said: "In Utopia, I could
afford to be concerned about the rest of you. My job is to take
care of Clovernook"--I am minded of a man who said that what is
good for General Motors is good for the nation. He lived to say
that he really didn't mean it that way. He had been
misunderstood--but it stuck. What is good for Clovernook is not
necessarily good for the blind. It may be--but not necessarily.
I have some concerns, and I will state them quickly. Then I want
to tell you what, since we are an action-oriented organization,
we (meaning the National Federation of the Blind) propose to do.
In the first place I would be curious to have, if I could,
some answers from producers--and I think that the first question
can be a yes/no question. Maybe not. I wish to know if you have
any employee that you pay less than the minimum wage. Now surely
that is a yes/no. Who wants to start that?
Dr. Tinsley: I will start it.
Dr. Jernigan: Do you?
Dr. Tinsley: No.
Ms. Johnson: No.
Dr. Jernigan: Okay. Now wait--for the record that is APH and
ASB.
Mr. Raeder: National Braille Press does not.
Dr. Jernigan: No.
Mr. Bull: A long way away from that at Braille
International.
Dr. Jernigan: Do you?
Mr. Bull: A long way away from--
Dr. Jernigan: You do not.
Mr. Bull: That is right.
Dr. Jernigan: Dr. Mundy?
Dr. Mundy: We pay sub-minimum wages to some people.
Dr. Jernigan: Thank you.
Now for the second question I want to ask--and I don't want
to be misunderstood as to the purpose of the question. This is
not the time to discuss whether NAC is a good or a bad outfit.
This is not the time to discuss whether one should or should not
be accredited. I wish to know: Are you or are you not NAC-
accredited?
Dr. Tinsley: No, APH.
Mr. Raeder: No.
Ms. Johnson: No.
Mr. Bull: No.
Dr. Jernigan: APH, no; ASB, no; Braille International, no.
Dr. Mundy?
Dr. Mundy: We have been accredited by the National
Accreditation Council since mid-70's.
Dr. Jernigan: The answer is yes.
Dr. Mundy: And we are happy to be accredited.
Dr. Jernigan: Yes, I understand you are pleased with it. The
answer is yes.
All right, now I ask you to consider those two answers and
then let me tell you these things.
If you are going to use sub-minimum wages and your
competitors don't use sub-minimum wages, there is some problem in
a level playing field for competition. If you are going to spend
part of your money on NAC and if it is as controversial as the
majority of the field believes that it is, that becomes a factor
in some people's thinking, although not in other's. But now to
the main issue. Mostly the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act is set up to
see that people in sheltered employment can sell products, can
make products--not primarily to sell those products to other
disadvantaged minorities, but to the government at large. The
blind are a disadvantaged minority. And I tell you very frankly
that the National Federation of the Blind, although it may wish
all of you well, is not primarily concerned with any one of you
producers. It is primarily concerned that blind people in this
country have an opportunity and a fair shake. And I believe that
that is what Congress will be concerned with. We have had a talk
with Beverly Milkman. We have said to her: "If this goes forward,
you may expect that we will do our utmost. We will bring every
possible influence to bear that we possess. And we will give it
top priority--because we believe this proposal damages blind
people."
In January we had occasion to hold a Washington seminar, and
as part of that some of our people wanted to talk to their
Congressional representatives. My count was that somewhat over
500 blind people went to Congressional offices. At that time we
were unaware of some of these things. Otherwise our priorities
might have been different. We primarily talked about Social
Security at that time. I suspect we will go back. And I suspect
we will want to inform the members of Congress that, in the name
of an act that is supposed to help people with disabilities,
blind people in our judgment are being hurt and deprived (or are
potentially being deprived) of reading material, which is a
program that I think is dear to the hearts of the Congress of
this country. And we will not be unmindful of Mr. Raeder's
comment about the 5 percent. In fact, many in Congress probably
do not know that NIB takes 5 percent of everything that is
produced in order to pay the fee, and I wonder how they will
react when they understand that, regardless of other
considerations, every page of Braille that is produced under this
proposed system will have a 5 percent levy on it. I have a
feeling that many of them won't like it.
I would say to you in conclusion (because I don't need to
talk long--I think what I have said is clear) that many of you
know that NIB as well as all programs for the blind is now under
severe pressure. There is talk in Congress (and serious talk)
about the possibility of eliminating special agencies for the
blind as far as the federal government is concerned. There was a
conversation held no longer ago than Sunday of this week with
major groups in the cross-disability field, talking about the
elimination of agencies for the blind. We were represented at
that meeting and did what we could to advocate the position that
agencies for the blind should continue.
One of the groups that is under severe pressure as far as
its very existence is the whole Javits-Wagner-O'Day system, NIB
and the Committee for Purchase. I suspect that a major fight in
this area may be sufficient to tip the scale for people who
already think that that program is a problem. You know that very
often there has recently been talk of decentralizing purchases
and of local communities' not going through any centralized
procurement system. I believe you are playing with dynamite. I
believe that Clovernook is asking for trouble where no trouble
need exist.
I want to conclude by saying to you that the National
Federation of the Blind will take action with reluctance because
we respect the players around the table here, the producers.
There has been a growing harmony in the blindness field in recent
times. There has been more and more a combining to try to save
programs and to try to improve programs. The kind of conflict
which will occur if this proposal goes forward will dwarf many
conflicts of the past. I tell you again, with real reluctance,
that the National Federation of the Blind will do everything in
its power to talk to Congress about all of the ramifications of
this and to talk to the Executive Branch of Government. We will
not be swayed--and we will be heard!
Mr. Cylke: Thank you. Jim, if you would like to come to the
table.
Comments by James Gashel
Mr. Gashel: I am the Director of Governmental Affairs for
the National Federation of the Blind, and I want to follow Dr.
Jernigan's remarks in a couple of respects. For those of you who
don't know and for the record here, I personally am involved with
the Congressional activity that impacts upon blind people having
Braille and books and with the general policies pertaining to the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act and rehabilitation, etc. I know that a
lot of you are not involved in the Washington-type activity every
day. You read the newspapers, but I want to give you my take on
this.
And, Jerry, it is quite frankly to say that I am not even
sure this is a good move for Clovernook. Let's start there. But
even if it is, it is certainly not a good move for blind people
and definitely not a good move for the Javits-Wagner-O'Day
Program. And ultimately if the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program were
to go down, it would defeat your whole strategy. Now I don't know
whether you have been checking the news or not, but affirmative
action is not the most popular thing here. It may be in
Cincinnati. I don't know. But it is not the most popular thing in
Washington. And quotas are definitely not the most popular thing
in Washington. It so happened that the Javits-Wagner-O'Day
Program was created in 1938, before our country got to be against
quotas. But the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program is the ultimate quota
program. The ultimate quota program. Yet it has so far escaped
notice as being the ultimate quota program, but after the Javits-
Wagner-O'Day Program was enacted, the Americans with Disabilities
Act was enacted. The policy of the Americans with Disabilities
Act is for employment in the competitive labor force and
employment on the basis of equality. The social conditions are
not now the same, and the employment conditions are not now the
same for blind people that they were in 1938.
And if, as Dr. Jernigan has said, the Congress were made
aware (and they basically are not aware) of the fact that the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program is the ultimate quota program and is
really segregated employment for blind people, not integrated
employment, which is anti-federal policy today, then I think that
the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program would on its own merit not stand
today. And Congress will know about that if an application like
this goes forward, because an application like this is
fundamentally not in the best interests of blind people.
I did a little calculation of the numbers. I am not sure
they were all presented here, but it seems to me that employment
of blind people would be diminished as a result of this proposal.
I didn't even hear you, Jerry, say that employment of blind
people in Cincinnati would be increased, just that it would be
stabilized at 75 percent of sixty-two people, or something like
that--that it would just be stabilized. Yet a number of the
producers around the table said employment of blind people would
go down. So I suspect, if we looked across the industry here,
that what we would really be looking at is diminished employment
opportunities for blind people, not more employment
opportunities. I don't think that would stand the test of our
modern thinking about employment opportunities, let alone stand
the test of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program. When you go before
the Committee for Purchase, what they are ultimately going to
want to know is what does this application do to employment of
blind people--not employment at Clovernook, but employment of
blind people, period. If they have to say that the numbers are
going to go down--well, that application ought to go down. I
think you ought to withdraw the application rather than
subjecting it to that kind of scrutiny.
I guess the last thing I would say, just adding to what Dr.
Jernigan said, is this: the National Federation of the Blind a
couple of years ago made as a priority in legislation to deal
with the problem that we were having on the appropriations for
the NLS program, because that program was going down, down, down.
And it went down in real dollars--not just in 1993 inflation.
That was a wake-up call to us. And we said, "Wait a minute. The
number of books is going to go down. The number of magazines is
going to go down unless we wake up and do something about it."
And we did. We went to the Congress last year, and it is on the
record. We took people to the hearings. We testified at those
hearings. And the NLS appropriations went up by about six
percent. Now, that ultimately is to the benefit of blind people
and can mean more books and magazines. It is also to the benefit
of the producers.
But what you are talking about here is a project that would
mean a real cut in the purchasing power of the NLS appropriation.
And one thing that Congress has focused on more than anything
else right now is, in terms of the NLS program, that blind people
want more purchasing power out of this program and want the
highest appropriation that Congress can possibly approve.
Fundamentally Congress is not going to like the idea that it is
going to cost more to purchase a certain number of magazines from
one supplier. That is fundamentally inconsistent with what the
Congress is looking at right now. And I just think that opens up,
not only the appropriation, but the whole purchasing idea under
the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, to the kind of scrutiny that you
ought not to be bringing upon this field right now. Thank you
very much.
Mr. Cylke: Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to
make a statement at this point? Then I suggest we are running
just a little off our agenda. Let's take a fifteen-minute break
and come back at quarter past eleven, and we can continue the
conversation. [Whereupon, a short recess was taken, and then the
meeting was reconvened.]
Discussion
Mr. Cylke: We are still on the same topic, which is the
Clovernook matter. Are there any comments, or is there any
discussion that you would like to entertain?
Ms. Curran: I have a question.
Mr. Cylke: Would you identify yourself and then--
Ms. Curran: Eileen Curran from National Braille Press.
Jerry, you mentioned that, when NIB looks at your Braille
production to see if you have 75 percent blind people, and you do
at the moment, you then said they look at the whole agency as
well. If you were to increase the number of blind people in your
file folder business in five years and decreased the number of
blind people in your Braille production, would you still be
considered eligible for Braille production of magazines on
procurement for--
Dr. Mundy: The way the ratio is figured is on the basis of,
at the present time at least, on the basis of the total number of
people employed in the employment centers in terms of that ratio.
And I believe I am correct on that. We have people from NIB who
could probably comment on that better than I. But we have been
working under this for a number of years, and that is essentially
it.
Ms. Curran: Okay, but there is no guarantee that it would
stay that way for Braille magazine production, will stay with 75
percent blind people.
Dr. Mundy: I would like to add, though, I think it is
extremely important that people understand our mission. I opened
with my comments in terms of what Clovernook's mission is, and
that is to employ visually impaired blind people, particularly
those who are multi-disabled blind people. If we were to look at
the constellation of the people we employ in our Braille
printing, you would see that a very large percentage of those
people employed there are multi-disabled. We have been doing this
for many years. We have employed people in that area. We have no
plans to decrease that number of people. In fact, we changed our
name in 1990 because we wanted to be able to express what we are
doing, and that is providing employment opportunities for people
who are visually impaired, especially those who are multi-
disabled and blind. So we are not looking toward a decrease in
the number of people that we are employing. We are looking toward
increasing that number of people.
So while there have been some comments in terms of how it
might cause a decrease overall in terms of the number of people
producing Braille, we believe that, while this is stabilizing our
employment of those we employ presently, it will give--it will
enable us the opportunity to provide additional employment in the
future.
Mr. Mitchell: If I could just add something.
Mr. Cylke: If you could just give your name.
Mr. Mitchell: John Mitchell with Clovernook. The comment was
raised earlier about the concern that they didn't hear of any
additional employment opportunities being created by this move.
Since October, since the announcements of the awards for the
magazines, Clovernook has hired nine additional individuals who
are blind in the production of these Braille publications. Now
certainly, if this is pursued and we are successful, it will not
require any additional labor at this time, beyond what was hired
starting in October of 1994.
Mr. Cylke: Are there any other comments? Jim Gashel?
Mr. Gashel: I am the one that raised the question about the
additional employment opportunities. And what I was really
talking about is this: you have already created the additional
employment opportunities through the bidding process, so that is
not being done under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act. The test under
the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act is do you create additional
employment opportunities, and what you are telling us is that you
won't--at least not right now. Nobody knows several years down
the line. But that is one thing that the Committee for Purchase
looks at. They boldly tell the Congress, "We created through this
program X thousand new job opportunities for blind and severely
disabled people." Your number would be zero right now as I
understand it. Now, what you also need seriously to look at is
what this does to employment of blind people, not just in
Cincinnati, Ohio, but in Philadelphia, and Louisville, and not to
exclude the rest of you--also in Boston.
Mr. Bull: Florida.
Mr. Gashel: Yeah, not to exclude--wherever these places are.
You are part of a global economy almost. You are at least part of
the U.S. economy--and part of the employment opportunities for
blind people throughout this entire country. You really ought to
have a little broader vision than Cincinnati. That will be the
test--and I would challenge you other producers to get your
figures together because we need to show what impact this action
would have on employment opportunities for blind people. We know
it won't increase any at Clovernook. That is the answer to that.
Now, the question is: will it decrease employment opportunities
for blind people in these other locations--and the answer to that
is clearly yes. The number I don't know, but I think we ought to
get that number together.
Mr. Cylke: Thank you.
Dr. Tinsley: Tuck Tinsley, APH. Is there a representative of
the President's Committee for Purchase?
Mr. Heyer: Yes, there is.
Dr. Tinsley: Wonderful. Could you tell me how you determine
whether or not you place a product on the Procurement List? If
something is tossed to you, what goes through your committee's
unified head?
Mr. Heyer: Okay, I am John Heyer. I am with the Committee
for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled. The
question as I understand it is what does the Committee consider
when it makes a decision to add something to the Procurement
List?
Dr. Tinsley: Yes, sir.
Mr. Heyer: Okay. We have in our regulations--there are
several factors. One is what is just being discussed, the
creation of employment for people with disabilities; the
capability of the organization to provide the service that is
being considered; the impact on the current or most recent
contractor for the item; and also we consider any other comments
which we receive during the comment period. And as I think it was
noted earlier, there is a comment period currently going on
concerning the proposal to add the sixteen magazines which
Clovernook is currently producing to the Procurement List.
Dr. Tinsley: What are the parameters of the impact? What
characteristics do you look at in determining whether or not
there is an adverse or a negative impact?
Mr. Heyer: Okay. The term which is in our regulations is
severe adverse impact on the current contractor. We look at the
bottom line on this really, and it dates from some litigation
early in the Committee's history: a situation in which as a
direct result of the Committee's action, the contractor which is
currently providing it, particularly if it is a contractor which
has been doing this same item for a long time and has become
dependent on it, that they could well go out of business. That is
the worst case, bottom line. Obviously the Committee is not going
to cut things quite that close. We do look at the situation, the
contractor, how big a piece of that contractor's business is
involved here, what is likely to happen as a direct result of the
addition of these particular items. Is there a preceding history;
is this something where this contractor has been impacted in the
past by other actions of the Committee in adding things to the
Procurement List?
Dr. Tinsley: So the cumulative effective action is--
Mr. Heyer: Is a factor, yes.
Mr. Cylke: Are there any comments or points?
Dr. Tinsley: This might be naive, but I am not sure of the
flow of the money. If $10,000 is set aside--that is, take $10,000
away from NLS budget, does it go directly from Congress to NIB,
or does it flow the other way?
Mr. Heyer: No, it continues to flow through NLS. Basically
the way the program operates is, once something has been put on
the Procurement List, any government agency which wishes to buy
this particular item is required to go to the designated non-
profit agency that the Committee has established through this
process, and they would continue to contract with the agency--in
this case, presumably, assuming that this were added to the
Procurement List, NLS would continue to buy the specific Braille
service of the specific magazines from Clovernook.
Mr. Cylke: If for example, Tuck, (and as you know we are
going out with a survey of our magazines) if the magazine
selection changed and fourteen of the sixteen magazines happen to
be produced by Clovernook, but it was determined that they would
not be produced any longer, Clovernook would then be losing all
but two magazines. You would have the other fourteen open to
competitive bid.
Dr. Tinsley: And does the agency that was contracting in the
past have a voice in this, knowing that--
Mr. Heyer: Oh, yes.
Dr. Tinsley: Okay, so NLS would have a voice in this also.
Mr. Heyer: They are consulted. We have been, you know, we do
work with them. We have worked with them in other items that have
been set aside. We do ask, look to them particularly in the areas
of capability, particularly in this case being as Clovernook is
the current contractor for the magazines in question. I think
this is a factor that at least partly has already been addressed.
Mr. Cylke: Yes, it should be clear that the notification of
this action came from Jerry Mundy to us, not from Beverly
Milkman. And the initiation of the meeting that we had with Ms.
Milkman was at our initiative. To my knowledge, Bill, have we had
any contact from them about the announcement in the Federal
Register or anything? Bill Price?
Mr. Price: No.
Mr. Cylke: We have not been contacted by you.
Dr. Jernigan: I want to ask the representative of the
Committee for Purchase a question. Suppose that these are put on
the Procurement List, and then suppose that a year or two years
from now prices are raised. What kind of review both nominal and
real does the Committee have on price increases?
Mr. Heyer: Well, the Committee is required by the law to set
an initial fair market price and to review the price and to
adjust as conditions warrant. The Committee has a rather
complicated pricing system, which determines if the price does
remain in the market ballpark. You have heard this 5 percent
kicked around. Basically what we are looking at would be the
median of the bids, plus or minus about 5 percent. And the price
is normally kept in this range. The price is also any price
changes. We do discuss them with, in this case NLS, and attempt
to get a concurrence.
Dr. Jernigan: One more question: since there are very few
producers of Braille magazines in this country, do you have any
idea how you would set a fair market price if Clovernook became
the only producer of Braille magazines and if it increased its
prices?
Mr. Heyer: I would like to say I think that it is extremely
unlikely that that is going to occur. I mean the price basically.
It is a situation where, as we have indicated, there are sixteen
magazines currently being proposed, and I would like to mention
that basically under this proposal that is the maximum number
that can be added to the Procurement List. The Committee may
determine, for reasons of impact or otherwise, to add a lesser
number than the sixteen. So I mean, they may add one. They may
add none. So I think the chances that they would be totally,
dominate the entire market--I think particularly given the sort
of thing I have heard today--and this I understand will be
transmitted to the Committee as part of their decision--I think
it is unlikely that it could take over the entire market. And I
don't think that is what is intended.
Dr. Tinsley: Mr. Heyer, you said you weighed the position of
the person you're providing, or agency you are providing services
to. Do you know NLS's position on this request? Yes, or no? I am
just wondering.
Mr. Heyer: I am not sure that I understand. We haven't
gotten a formal position as yet. We have had some things, I must
apologize, I am just standing in for Ms. Milkman, who is out of
town. I have been out sick a good long while, so I have not been
involved in any of this other than be told, "Come and listen to
see what is going on."
Dr. Tinsley: Okay, may I address a question to Mr. Cylke?
Mr. Cylke, for the record could you or would you mind stating
NLS's position on this request?
Mr. Cylke: At this point in time what we have communicated
to Beverly Milkman is that we wish to present the impact on the
Braille production community for consideration by the Committee.
We expressed--concern perhaps is too strong--but reservations
about the ability of the Committee to the point that Mr. Jernigan
just raised, the ability to identify appropriate price levels,
ability to have producers continue in the manner that they are
producing now. And at this point it is an exploratory situation.
But I do wish to stress that at no point has the Committee
contacted us. I was unaware until I heard at the table this
morning that the announcement was put in the Federal Register. I
was told that the progress would not take place until after this
meeting. So, that it is--
Mr. Heyer: I would like to clarify that if I could based on
what I was told. As I understood it, it was our understanding
that the Committee would not make a decision until after this
meeting. However, because of the length of the administrative
process, which we are required to go through under our law, it
was necessary for us to put this notice in the Federal Register.
And I apologize for the fact that apparently word did not get to
you on that.
Mr. Cylke: Not only did word not get to me on that, I wasn't
aware that that was the position of the Committee.
Mr. Heyer: All right. Well, that was basically what was
relayed to me.
Mr. Cylke: Yes, I understand.
Mr. Raeder: Point of information. Bill Raeder here. We have
read the notice in the Federal Register, which came out about two
weeks ago. And it invites comments up to April 10th.
Mr. Heyer: Right. Yes, this is basically--we are required to
put this notice out with a thirty-day comment period. And I would
urge you to get the comments in, although I understand that a
transcript of what is going on today will be provided to the
Committee.
Mr. Cylke: Yes.
Mr. Heyer: And the Committee will consider anything that was
said in this room this morning. If you would care to comment
directly, there is an address in there. I have a couple of copies
of this notice if anyone would like to see it or to get our
address. We would like to see something by the 10th. We are not
firmly inflexible. We will not slam the door in your face if it
is not on our desk by the end of that day. But we would like to
see it shortly thereafter at the latest, so we can continue. What
we need to do at this point is to provide all the information the
Committee is required to consider and give them a chance to vote
on this matter.
Mr. Cylke: Are there any other questions or points?
Mr. Gashel: Mr. Cylke, I would just say this: With respect
to the Federal Register notice; now we have that. Jerry, apropos
of the comments that have been made around here, quite frankly,
unless we were to hear from you that this application is not
going to go forward, there is a lot of activity that is going to
have to go forward. Because it is very clear from what our friend
from the Committee for Purchase just said, their administrative
process is going forward. And that means that the whole thing is
up in the air. The Congress will be involved as we have
discussed. The Appropriations Committees will be involved.
This is right at the time when the NLS appropriation is on
the table. Mr. Cylke doesn't have to tell you how delicate that
is. It has been quite delicate in recent years. This is right at
the time when the whole subject of the Rehabilitation Act and its
reauthorization and its folding into employment and training
programs in general is being considered. All of that is on the
table on Capitol Hill. And we will absolutely have no choice,
unless. . . . You are the only one really, in effect, in control
of this process. You could abort it today by withdrawing that
application. And I realize that is a tough decision. It is the
best decision for blind people.
I hope you will make that decision because otherwise you
give the rest of us (and I think that is true of all of the
producers in this room as well as the National Federation of the
Blind) absolutely no choice but to do the things that we have to
do for the broader benefit of blind people. The big thing for you
to do would be to withdraw that application and show how much
more interested you are in preserving these programs and in
helping them grow rather than constraining them.
I would just like to ask one question of the man from the
Committee, and that is: if we want there to be one, is there an
opportunity for a public hearing before the Committee?
Mr. Heyer: This is something basically, what I would ask you
to do would be to make a request to the Committee to see if a
public hearing would be an appropriate thing to do. Normally the
Committee does not get into public hearings, although we have on
occasion had them. Particularly, what we normally do is we permit
interested speakers to come to one of our committee meetings. And
I do believe we have a committee meeting on, early in April. It
would be possibly an appropriate time for this.
Mr. Cylke: Thank you. Any other questions?
Mr. Decker: I have one comment.
Mr. Cylke: This is Jack Decker.
Mr. Decker: Jack Decker from American Printing House. As I
look at the comparison of dollars going to each of the facilities
over the years, I notice in the last year that all facilities
except one went down from the total dollars awarded. Two of the
facilities--and we are one of them--are at a level that we would
have to seriously look at whether we should continue in Braille
magazine production. There is just not enough dollars there to
warrant coming back. As long as you have the 1.6 million dollars
sitting out there that if you are competitive, if you have a shot
at, you keep coming back. But if you take two thirds of it away,
then we really have to seriously look at whether it makes sense
to continue coming back. So I think there is a real possibility
that one to two of the Braille magazine producers may not be here
in the future if this happens.
Dr. Jernigan: I would like to say something to Mr. Heyer.
For the record I tell you that there is a room full of people
here--and that ought to be enough to make a record. We request a
hearing before the Committee.
Mr. Heyer: All right, sir. Well, I will report that back to
the Committee. Under our regulations the Committee has to make a
determination as to whether that is appropriate, and we will be
getting back to you quite shortly on that.
Mr. Cylke: Bill Raeder.
Mr. Raeder: I would like to endorse the comment from Jack
Decker here a moment ago, that National Braille Press was so hurt
by the current round of bidding for Braille magazines that it is
a major subject before our next executive committee meeting as to
whether we would be continuing in Braille magazine work at all
for NLS.
Mr. Cylke: Bill Price.
Mr. Price: Bill Price. You know, I would like to respond to
Tuck's question, which Mr. Cylke did respond to, whether or not
we had made our position clear to the Committee at any point. We
did have the meeting that was mentioned earlier with Mr. Cylke
and Brad Kormann and myself with Beverly Milkman and Will Harmon
and another person from the Committee or from the NIB. One of the
things that we did, in fact, point out to Ms. Milkman personally
in that meeting was our real concern. And I will say I think we
expressed it as a concern. I certainly meant to get it across as
a concern that it isn't just simply removing sixteen magazines,
and then the other people would have all the competitive
opportunity to bid on what is left.
My concern is now (and it was expressed to Beverly Milkman)
that it has a significant impact on the competitive process that
remains. Just as you have stated, our process here for
procurement would be significantly impacted in a negative way and
just for the reasons that Jack Decker and Bill Raeder have just
mentioned. We would be concerned about who would be left to bid
on the magazines, what the prices of those bids would have to be,
and the overall impact on our procurement and the cost to
magazines. That, indeed, was stated more or less in that manner
in that meeting with the Committee.
Dr. Tinsley: If you preface what you said by "We are opposed
to it," it makes it really clear.
Mr. Cylke: I didn't state it that way because it is
inappropriate for me to do so, but Bill has--Yes?
Mr. Bull: Geoff Bull, if I may come back? On the subject of
the impact that this proposal would have, Braille International
is one of the new kids on the block. We came in 1979, and I think
we made a useful contribution in bringing the cost of Braille
books into a very competitive area. I think we made a significant
impact upon Braille books.
In '93 we moved into premises twice the size we were
currently occupying, at great expense, in anticipation of having
a competitive market in the magazine production area. We at
Braille International are going to have to review our situation
very, very seriously if this proposal goes through.
I would also like to elaborate on a fact that Bill Raeder
mentioned, because I think it is a very important one. And it is
the platform that the government funding gives us to do other
things. We are not using government funds to produce Braille for
individuals or employees of small companies, church groups,
organizations of the blind--but we do have the equipment, the
staff, and the building, which affords a wonderful platform to
make available these other Braille projects, which are so
preciously and desperately needed. And our base is decreased
through the amount of funds available for other purposes. Then
there must be an ongoing effect on the availability of Braille to
the low-volume user. Also with the lower margins and
disproportionately high overheads arising from the lack of the
magazine funding, this I think would have a roll-on effect
against the cost of Braille books, because our overheads would be
higher proportionately, and our margins would be slimmer. So I
think that would have a roll-on effect in other areas regarding
price. Thank you.
Dr. Mundy: Kurt, I know you are nearing the end of the time
for comment here, and I just wanted to be able to say (and this
is Jerry Mundy for the record). I just wanted to be able to say
at the end of our discussion here that one of the things I said
during my presentation earlier is that we did not arrive at the
decision to proceed with placing magazines on the Procurement
List in an easy fashion. It was not something that we made a
decision on overnight. It was something that we gave a lot of
serious thought to. So I want to reinforce that. It was not an
easy decision.
Secondly, I think it is extremely important that you all
understand that we are here today, and we are listening very
closely to what you have had to say. The process continues. As
Mr. Heyer has already pointed out, the process is yet to be
culminated with the decision.
I am willing to follow the process through. As I said at the
beginning, this was not an easy decision. I think I stated
clearly in my presentation why we decided to do so. And I still
believe that that was the appropriate decision on our part. Our
intent is, of course, not to have adverse effect on any of the
other members of the Braille production community. That was not
our intent. It is not our intent yet. We frankly believe that we,
as a major producer of Braille (and have been for many, many
years), are not having any more of an adverse impact on the
Braille-producing community by doing this than if we were not to
do it. We are simply now able to stabilize the employment of our
people and allow us to employ more people in the future by doing
this. So that is my comment. Thank you.
Dr. Tinsley: Jerry, you said you were listening--
Mr. Cylke: This is Tuck Tinsley.
Dr. Tinsley: Yeah. You prefaced it by saying you are
listening, but did you hear what we said, because I am concerned
with your last comment, that you don't see a negative impact. Do
we need to go through it again?
Mr. Bull: Are you disputing everything that we have said
this morning?
Dr. Mundy: It will, of course, be in print, and I suppose we
could listen to it again on tape, if we wish to. So I, you know,
what I am saying to you, Tuck, and to the other members of the
group here, is that we have taken what we have heard here today
very seriously, and we will continue to do so. I don't know
whether that answers your question. I think I heard what was said
here.
Dr. Tinsley: Okay.
Mr. Cylke: Are there any other final comments? I would just
add one point. It should be understood that, in the system in
which we live, the placing of the magazines on the List is not
under NLS control. And it is not under our control whether we
agree or disagree with that placement on the List. We have by
legal constraints to act. That is why we don't express an
opinion.
The meeting today was not to direct any comment at all from
the Library of Congress, but to open it up to a public hearing so
that producers could indicate the impact on them and so that
consumers could reflect the impact on them. I have heard what has
been said, and I trust that Mr. Heyer and others have heard it. I
know that Ms. Milkman will have access to the testimony, and that
is what we can provide. At this point I will close this part of
the meeting and say thank you very much.
After these remarks by Mr. Cylke, the meeting was adjourned. Those who were present went their separate ways and doubtless pondered what they had heard.
The End of the Story
And what of the rest of the story? It speaks with an unmistakable voice and is quickly told. The lesson is clear and requires no comment:
Cincinnati, Ohio April 5, 1995
Dear Mr. Cylke:
Once again thank you for taking the time to talk with me by
telephone yesterday. After considerable thought we have made the
decision to withdraw our application to the President's Committee
for Purchase from People Who are Blind or Severely Disabled to
place sixteen (16) magazines on the Federal Procurement List. In
order that there be no confusion, the magazines referred to are
those listed in the Federal Register, Vol 60/#47/Friday, March
10, 1995.
We look forward to continuing the good working relationship
we have with you and your staff in the future.
Sincerely,
Gerald W. Mundy, Ed.D.
Executive Director
The Clovernook Center--Opportunities for the Blind
cc: Beverly Milkman, Executive Director, President's Committee Judy Peters, President, National Industries for the Blind
DULUTH LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND TAKES A BATH AND FINDS ITSELF IN HOT WATER
From the Editor: Here's an interesting problem for you. What
would you do if you administered a sheltered workshop for the
blind which had always been assumed by uninformed members of the
general public to benefit blind people? Then suppose you found
the agency's dirty linen being thoroughly aired in a series of
hard-hitting stories on the local television news broadcast? What
could you do to try to rescue the situation?
That is the unenviable situation the Duluth Lighthouse for
the Blind found itself in last fall. As one of the dwindling
number of so-called sheltered workshops employing blind workers
that is still throwing away good money on accreditation by the
National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and
Visually Handicapped (NAC), the Lighthouse had never deluded
blind people into believing its propaganda, but the TV reporter's
revelations came as a shock to the general public. The following
is the article describing the TV news series which appeared in
the Winter, 1995, edition of the Minnesota Bulletin, a
publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota.
It was written by Curtis Chong, First Vice President of the NFB
of Minnesota and a longtime observer of the blindness field. Here
it is:
[Photo #5: Portrait Caption: Curtis Chong]
Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind Embroiled in Controversy
by Curtis Chong
For many years the Lighthouse for the Blind in Duluth has
been regarded by the community as the premier agency for the
blind in the Arrowhead region. So entrenched in the public mind
is the Lighthouse that once a public official was heard to
proclaim with pride that the Lighthouse was the most wonderful
employer of blind people in the area. In short, the Lighthouse
has traditionally been viewed by the public as a benevolent and
charitable benefactor to people who suffer from the tragedy of
blindness.
This is not how most blind people regard the Lighthouse. By
and large it is often criticized; traditionally disliked; and
generally viewed as a repressive, paternalistic agency. Blind
people in the Arrowhead area who can't find employment anywhere
else have turned in desperation to the Lighthouse for help and
have accepted work in the agency's sheltered workshop as a last
resort. Instead of providing the necessary training to help these
individuals find meaningful employment elsewhere in the
community, the Lighthouse has typically retained more productive
workers in order to keep production high and continue to receive
government contracts while laying off those workers deemed to be
less useful.
Perhaps the most infamous attempt by the Lighthouse to
expand its business was the acquisition of contracts to produce
toilet tissue for the Federal government. This project was not
favorably regarded by the blind community. Yet the Lighthouse
managed to squeeze the State of Minnesota for more than $150,000
in grant money, which the state then permitted it to spend
without proper checks and balances.
In mid-November, 1994, a three-part investigative report on
the Lighthouse was aired on Channel 6 in Duluth. Prepared by
television reporter Barbara Reyelts, the report showed the public
that the Lighthouse is every bit as paternalistic, repressive,
and discriminatory as blind people have maintained for years.
Here are some interesting tidbits of information from the story:
The acting director of the Lighthouse is Nick Thul, who was
appointed to fill that position after Michael Conlan resigned,
though Conlan still serves as a consultant. The Director of
Communications (Public Relations) for the Lighthouse is Nancy
Roche, who just happens to be Mr. Thul's daughter. And the
Lighthouse expects the public to believe that Ms. Roche did not
get her job because of her relationship to her father?
Sandy Wilmot is a blind woman who worked for seventeen years
at the Lighthouse as a liaison between shop workers and the
administration. Two years ago the Lighthouse management
eliminated Ms. Wilmot's position, ostensibly for financial
reasons. She was then fired. When the reporter questioned Thul
about this treatment, he claimed he had never heard of Sandy
Wilmot. Citing his eleven years on the Board, Thul said, "If she
was an employee that was mistreated, I think as an active board
member I would have known about it."
Shortly after Thul took charge of the Lighthouse, the press
was invited to a reception and news conference. During the two-
hour event reporters were not introduced to a single blind shop
employee. They could film production workers on the line, but
they were not given a chance to meet or talk with any of them.
Nick Thul was reported to say that the Lighthouse had every
intention of advertising for and hiring a blind person to work at
the reception desk. Blind people in Duluth expressed a different
view: why not hire a blind person as executive director of the
Lighthouse?
Recently, the Lighthouse doubled its shifts, going to round-
the-clock production. But not one of the new people hired was
blind, and no one in the blind community knew about any job
openings until after they were filled.
To win lucrative government contracts, the Lighthouse must
ensure that 75 percent of its direct production labor force is
blind. In administrative and management positions, however, the
Lighthouse employs only two people who are blind. Additionally,
the Lighthouse has apparently found a way to sidestep the 75
percent direct-labor requirement by setting up a separate for-
profit corporation. This corporation has yet to hire anyone who
is blind.
Today the Lighthouse finds itself embroiled in controversy
with the very people whom it is supposed to serve--namely, blind
people themselves. Current and former blind employees have signed
and distributed a petition calling upon the Lighthouse to make
reforms. We understand that a lawyer has been retained and that
the entire matter is also being investigated by Services for the
Blind. We know that longtime Lighthouse director Mike Conlan is
no longer in charge of the agency. But instead of leaving in
disgrace, Mr. Conlan is now serving as a consultant, meaning that
he is still being paid by the agency. If the television reports
we have seen are accurate, Nick Thul certainly does not represent
an improvement. Blind people are still expected to keep quiet and
accept with gratitude everything that the Lighthouse dishes out
to them. As a token gesture the Lighthouse plans to hire a blind
receptionist. Then, to add insult to injury, the Lighthouse has
set up a subsidiary, for-profit corporation to sidestep the
federally-mandated 75 percent direct labor requirement.
How will all of this shake out in the end? We hope that
matters will work out in favor of blind people in the Arrowhead
region. The public image of the Lighthouse has already been
tarnished. Victory for the blind is certainly possible.
That's the way the Minnesota Bulletin reported the situation
in Duluth, and, no question about it, the television expos
damaged the reputation of the Lighthouse. From the agency's point
of view something had to be done immediately to counteract the
negative publicity the sheltered shop had recently received. Then
it apparently occurred to someone on the staff that positive
publicity might be gleaned from the agency's recent
reaccreditation by NAC. The idea demonstrated a perverse
ingenuity. Those who know the truth about NAC and the hypocrisy
of its seal of good practice, of course, would recognize such an
announcement as an occasion for apology, but the Lighthouse could
count on the popularity of the concept of accreditation and the
public's ignorance about NAC to protect the workshop from any
possible embarrassment. Even so, the PR offensive required some
remarkable twisting of the facts. For example, by the end of 1994
there were sixty-nine NAC member agencies, not the hundred
mentioned in the Lighthouse press release. In NAC's heyday in the
early eighties it could boast only 104 agency members, but those
days are far in NAC's past.
With a startling disregard for truth, the writer of the
announcement made the statement that NAC was the only accrediting
body in the blindness field--as though the Commission on
Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) were not
already accrediting, by its own count, some 500 agencies serving
blind consumers. Moreover, the writer talked about NAC standards
as though they were actually used to measure the excellence of
the agency engaging in the accreditation self-study. Those
unfamiliar with NAC's compelling need to accredit any agency
willing to pay its fee could be pardoned for making such an
assumption, but no one actually in the blindness field can
pretend that NAC standards actually impose any requirement of
excellence at all. (See the May, 1995, issue of the Braille Monitor.)
But the most amusing and amazing piece of creative mis-
direction in the press release was the statement that the Duluth
Lighthouse is one of a virtual handful of the 3,200 agencies
serving blind people to demonstrate sufficient excellence in
service delivery to earn the coveted NAC accreditation. Well,
that's one explanation for the shrinking group of NAC member
agencies, but not one that would ordinarily come to mind. Here is
the Duluth Lighthouse press release as it was printed on November
29, 1994, in the Duluth Budgeteer:
Lighthouse Awarded Maximum NAC Reaccreditation
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Duluth, Minnesota, announces
their reaccreditation by the National Accreditation Council
(NAC), the only standard accrediting body for organizations that
serve individuals who are blind and visually handicapped.
The Duluth Lighthouse has been reaccredited for the maximum
allowable period through December 31, 1998. Of the 3,200 agencies
serving the blind and visually impaired nationwide, only 100
agencies have achieved NAC accreditation.
In his congratulatory notification, Alfred Rosenbloom,
Chairperson of the NAC Commission on Accreditation, said, "The
commission is pleased to learn of the many commendable activities
of the Lighthouse since the time of initial accreditation. My
sincere congratulations to the staff and Board of the Lighthouse
for the Blind for this maximum award of reaccreditation."
Since its inception, one of NAC's major responsibilities has
been the development, publication, and distribution of standards
of best practice in services for the blind and visually impaired.
These standards are used as the bases of the accreditation
process.
The accreditation process provides the framework and tools
that an organization can use to systematically and thoughtfully
evaluate the quality and effectiveness of its resources,
procedures, and services in comparison to national standards and
to develop specific plans for improvement of its operation.
The accreditation process emphasizes public accountability.
An organization demonstrates its commitment to operating in a
responsive and responsible manner through open, broad-based
internal evaluation and planning, combined with external peer
review.
The Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind is a private, nonprofit
organization established in 1921 to provide rehabilitative and
employment services to the blind in this region. It is the
largest, most comprehensive facility serving the blind and
visually impaired between the Chicago Lighthouse and the Seattle
Lighthouse.
MORE OF THE SAME AT THE ARKANSAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
From the Editor: On June 1 Ivan Terzieff will take up his duties as Superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind and there is no doubt that he will have his hands full. In the November, 1994, and March and April, 1995, issues of the Braille Monitor we reported the problems at the school. One might have hoped that after Leonard Ogburn pled no contest to the charges of harassment against a teacher in January, the school staff would have turned its attention to repairing the damage that had been done to the institution. But human beings are rarely so sensible or so pragmatic. On April 21 the Arkansas Times reported on the current condition of the school and the staff. It makes illuminating if discouraging reading. The Story was written by John Haman. Here it is:
Feuding at the School for the Blind
A Superintendent's Scandal Prolongs the Hostilities
by John Haman
If you thought the trouble at the Arkansas School for the
Blind ended with the firing of Superintendent Leonard Ogburn,
think again.
Since Ogburn was dismissed in September and later convicted
of misdemeanor harassment for spanking a female teacher, the
school, with its forty teachers, 117 on-campus students, and $5.7
million budget, has become a silent battleground between two
hostile camps: those who believe Ogburn was a corrupt empire
builder and those who think that he hung the moon. The two groups
don't eat together, say teachers, and they avoid each other in
the halls. Anti-Ogburn employees say they have been harassed by
administrators, had their tires punctured in the parking lot,
found their mail opened, and received anonymous hate mail at
work. Since January 28 the Little Rock police have taken five
reports of criminal mischief at the school, and the
administration has just hired a day-time security guard to put
minds at ease.
"It's a freak show," says music teacher John Gould, an
Ogburn opponent who believes administrators have sought revenge
against him for taking his criticisms to the press. "It is like a
big Peyton Place."
The divide only widened when the state legislature voted to
reorganize the school, downgrading several redundant
administrative positions and putting some general functions like
maintenance and transportation under the purview of the adjacent
School for the Deaf.
There have been rumblings that some school employees have
been slow to accept the mandates of the legislature. But the real
source of internal conflict (if not legislative unhappiness)
remains the State Police investigation on Ogburn and the school,
conducted by Investigator Danny Harkins. Copies of the case file
have been floating around the school for months, revealing, with
scores of employee interviews, just who hates whom. In those
smoldering pages teachers back-stab their colleagues and bosses
over pay and qualification issues, claiming that nepotism
motivated the hiring of relatives from other state jobs who
transferred in at their old, inappropriately high wages.
Salacious memos were spirited from trash cans for the file, and
the investigator was bombarded with anonymous tips.
In one intriguing episode, five-year substitute teacher Ann
Polk, who testified in support of the school restructuring, says
she was unceremoniously removed from the substitute list. She
believes this was retaliation by principal Tom Blackwell. The
next day Blackwell left the school and never came back. Shortly
afterwards Polk was reinstated.
And there have been other problems:
The woman who accused Ogburn of spanking her has also
filed a complaint against the school with the federal Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission. In lieu of suing the school,
she has offered to accept a payment of $25,842, or one year's
salary, to settle the matter. Her attorney, Mark Riable, a former
legislator, warns that the school could expose itself to federal
and state civil rights suits with the potential of very large
damages if it does not settle.
Gould, the music teacher, has met with several Little Rock
lawyers about bringing a harassment suit against the school over
accusations made by a supervisor that he helped students falsify
work-study hours. Gould says the supervisor, an Ogburn
sympathizer, is retaliating against him because Gould went public
with accusations against Ogburn, including the allegation that
Ogburn tried to intimidate employees into giving to the United
Way by giving the school's board a list of employees who had not
contributed.
To the chagrin of many, Ogburn has continued to appear on
campus. Shortly after his September firing, he went on campus
several times to collect mail. In January he attended a state
championship wrestling match at the school, and in February
Ogburn showed up at a reception for the finalists for his old
position, an action galling to his detractors. Acting
superintendent Jim Hill said he has no idea who, if anyone,
invited Ogburn to the event.
To cap it all off, Ogburn supporters recently held an
appreciation banquet to honor Ogburn's lengthy service to the
blind school, but Hill stressed that the function did not occur
on campus, and no school money was spent on the affair.
"There are people on campus so sympathetic with Mr. Ogburn
that he could literally spank someone in front of them and they
would deny it," says Gould.
Riable says his involvement in the case has led many other
school employees to ask if he would also represent them in
complaints against the school, but he has so far declined.
Nevertheless, he is disgusted by what he knows of the school.
"If you had gone over there two years ago, you'd think Orval
Faubus was still the governor," said Riable. "There was a
director that ran that place by intimidation and control and
favoritism. The merit system didn't have a place there.
"You have a board that is independent from the governor,
once appointed, and independent from the Arkansas Department of
Education. You have administrative hangers-on who learned that if
they could befriend the director, that was the person who would
make the salary recommendation to the legislature. And from a
political standpoint a lot of people were afraid they would
appear unsympathetic to the plight of the blind if they didn't go
along."
Hill, the acting superintendent, acknowledges many of the
troubles, but says the school has come a long way since Ogburn
and the legislative hearings.
"It goes without saying that when you have people testifying
that other people's jobs should be omitted or cut out, I think
there's going to be some feelings there.
"There was a split in the staff, but there has been some
reconciliation between the groups," he says. "People are not as
divided in their seating arrangements. And professionally the
group has always maintained that the kids come first, and
anything else is secondary. We have gone through some sessions in
conflict resolution techniques."
The new superintendent, Dr. Ivan Terzieff, is scheduled to
arrive from Iowa on June 1.
"If the school's going to survive," says Hill, "it's going
to have to be more open with the outside world, specifically the
legislature."
ACHIEVING A DREAM WITH THE HELP OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
by Buna Dahal
From the Editor: One of the speakers at this year's Mid- Winter Conference sponsored by the National Association of Blind Students was Buna Dahal, a student at the College of Dupage in Glenn Ellen, Illinois. In 1990 she left Nepal and came to this country to study at the Overbrook School for the Blind. At the time she knew no English and certainly did not know English Braille. She had used a white cane to travel in Nepal, so she undertook the trip completely alone. In the five years since her arrival in the United States, Buna has made remarkable strides. She is charming and vivacious and filled with courage and determination. She attributes much of her success to the support and encouragement she has received from members of the National Federation of the Blind. Here is her story as she told it to members of the student division:
As Dr. Jernigan said in the Kernel Book,
The Journey, it is "the journey of the blind from second-class status
to hope and opportunity." I am also moving into this journey to fight for
equality, security, and opportunity for the blind. In 1990 I came to the United
States on a yearly scholarship to study computer technology and English as a
second language at Overbrook School for the Blind International Program in Philadelphia.
After my school year was over in '91, I moved to Illinois, where my uncle and
auntie lived. I had a great desire to continue my education in the U.S. My uncle
and auntie believed blind people could go to college and be successful independently
as their sighted peers do. Because of them my wish came true.
For about two years I wondered if there were any blind
people in the U.S., or if I was the only one. If there were,
where were they? Luckily, I received my answer on May 8, 1993,
when I joined the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois,
Chicago Chapter.
When I was a child, my parents and I knew about my blindness
and were sure nothing could be done to get my sight back. I said
to my mother, "Mom, there are many blind people like me in the
world. I'm not the only one. If they have opportunities to go to
school, there must be those things for me too. Please look for my
school." At that time, I was just five years old. After sixteen
years, I found the family I was looking for in my childhood. This
real family is the National Federation of the Blind.
Because of reports in the media about muggings, I was scared
to death to travel independently. Let me tell you, in Nepal I was
the first woman to travel independently using a cane. When I came
here, I lost my independent travel because I didn't know any
blind people who were able to do it. So I used a dial-a-ride
service to go to the first chapter meeting. There I met blind
people who were walking with their canes. On one hand I felt
guilty, and on the other hand I was embarrassed. Within a couple
of weeks, while I was having a conversation with Brian Johnson
about both my fear and my eagerness for independent travel, he
said, "Buna, the media don't mention all the trips that people
make every day without being attacked."
Right then I said to myself, "If nothing happens to other
blind people, I'm sure nothing will happen to me either." As a
result I started taking the train downtown to attend chapter
meetings by myself.
Because of my blindness I was confused about what I could be
in the future. My college counselor forced me to major in
elementary school teaching and rejected my interest in social
work, not on the ground that my academic score was low, not on
the ground that I was a non-competitive student, but on the
ground that I was blind. At the time I had neither people nor a
place to talk about my unhappiness. Later I attended the National
Federation of the Blind of Illinois convention in 1993. It was my
first convention in my entire life. I went back to the college
and changed my major to human service in order to reach my goal
of social work.
Furthermore, I used to record classes on a tape recorder. It
was the dumbest thing I had ever done in my life. I believed I
could not take notes in Braille because English was my second
language. Moreover, I had been told that Braille would make me
slow. Last winter quarter I was exhausted with my school work. I
hated to sit down and listen to those tapes again. It was like
being in the entire class for the second time. The next morning I
had a child psychology test, but instead of studying that night,
I picked up an article, "Competing on Terms of Equality as Blind
Students," by Fred Schroeder. As soon as I read this literature,
I took out my recorder, put my slate and Braille paper in my bag,
and said, "I don't care how slow I am; I am going to take class
notes in Braille." Can you guess what happened? I became faster
in Braille than on tape. [applause] Believe me, nothing can beat
Braille.
Today I have back my independent travel skill, Braille
skill, and a beautiful dream to be a social worker because of the
National Federation of the Blind. Finally, since you are all
listening to me patiently, I hope that you are realizing too how
rapidly NFB has changed the whole structure of my life within
twenty months.
To me as a Federationist, the most important positive first
step on my march toward freedom was to learn that to be blind is
to be human, not perfect.
[Photo #6: Portrait Caption: Shawn Jacobson]
TIPPING, THE RIGHT THING TO DO
by Shawn Jacobson
From the Editor: When I was twenty-one,
I had my first experience with a bellhop who didn't want to accept a tip from
me for carrying my bag to my hotel room. I was about as green as they come,
never having been anywhere that tipping might be required without someone older,
more experienced, and wealthier than I along to cope with such social emergencies
as tipping. But as an inveterate reader of murder mysteries, in which people
are always paying lavish tips for various services, I knew that I should give
the little man with only one hand something for having lugged my heavy bag to
my Washington, D.C., hotel room. As I remember it, a dollar was what I had available,
and although that was a bit much in the mid sixties for the service, I pressed
it on the bellman.
Then the fun began. He didn't want to take it. I insisted. He said that he couldn't
take money from a poor, young girl who was blind. I assured him that my expenses
were being paid by a New York organization, and tips were part of the deal.
That settled the dispute; he couldn't accept money from a blind person, but
an outfit from New York was a different matter. I forbore to mention that the
organization was a nonprofit, Recording for the Blind. I figured that hostilities
might begin all over again, so I tried to comfort myself with the fact that
I had won.
Yet the experience shook me, and I must confess that tipping has continued to
present me with innumerable quandaries through the years. That first encounter
was a shock. Even at the time I recognized that the poor man had no business
turning down my tip and that telling him someone else would be paying it would
protect his pride. But I could not help feeling that, if I had not insisted
that he take the money, he would ultimately have felt some regret or even indignation
when the glow of virtue induced by his chivalry toward a blind woman wore off.
I continue to debate with myself about tipping situations: hotel shuttle drivers,
yes, a dollar or two if the distance is substantial; cab dispatchers at the
airport, no; hotel doormen who summon cabs, yes, theirs is not an easy life.
And so it goes. Blind people have a harder time than most in making these decisions
because it is sometimes hard to tell what other people are doing. My rule has
become to err on the side of generosity. I still occasionally have trouble with
people who don't think it is appropriate to accept money from someone whom they
believe to be worse off than them. But I now know how to deal with that feeling.
It is amazing how far you can get when you are intent on giving away money.
The trouble is that many blind people aren't quite prepared to take a firm stand
on the matter of tipping Shawn Jacobson is not one of these, and his advice
is well worth heeding just before the national convention. Shawn is a member
of the Sligo Creek Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.
He works in Washington, D.C., so he knows first hand about the ins and outs
of tipping. Here is what he has to say on the subject:
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland conducted a
retreat at the National Center for the Blind on March 31 and
April 1, 1995. One of the seminar topics was how to act
professional despite the misconceptions about blindness held by
sighted people. All of the old stereotypes were revisited. We
talked about how some people think that being blind makes you
deaf, stupid, etc. Why do people think this anyway? Much of the
discussion went on in this way.
But toward the end of the meeting an odd thing happened.
Fred Flowers mentioned that he had been on a bus trip to Atlantic
City with a bunch of other blind people. The hostess did a great
job for the group, but almost no one tipped her. He pointed out
that such hosts and hostesses rely on tips for most of their
income.
We went on to discuss why such a thing had happened. Don't
worry, no one suggested that blindness caused people to be rude
or stingy. We concluded that blind people might not tip because
it is not something expected of us. When sighted people want to
do everything for us, it is easy to take service for granted; the
next step is to think that being served is our right. We also
suggested that some blind people don't tip because they don't
have the chance to be in public very often and therefore don't
know how frequently people are expected to tip.
All this is probably true, but what do we do about it? We
can go on not tipping and hope that people will always be kind.
However, I strongly believe that such an attitude hurts us. Fred
commented that, after her experience on the Atlantic City trip,
the hostess would never again want to work for blind people. The
problem is that, given any excuse at all, people will think that
being blind makes one unreasonable, rude, and generally selfish.
Dealing with a large group of blind people who don't appreciate
what you do for them is going to be noticed and remembered. Thus,
when we as blind people fail to be acceptably generous, we
inevitably pay the price in stereotyping and in a generally
negative public image.
Sighted people who don't tip are not well liked by people
who depend on tips. I once talked to a man who worked in a hotel.
He said that everyone dreads Mary Kay conventions because the
people are told not to tip, and they don't. If we believe that
blind people are like sighted people, then it follows that we
will not be well liked if we do not tip.
How much should we tip? About 15 percent is good in most
situations. More should be given if the service was especially
good. Sometimes, if the service was poor or the server was rude,
patronizing, or otherwise unpleasant, no tip should be given at
all. I once took a cab from northwest to southwest Washington,
D.C., which went through all four quadrants of the city. The
driver then charged me two dollars more than the fare should have
been. Since that was about the amount I would have tipped him, I
gave him no tip and called it even. Sometimes the best tip you
can give such a person is the advice to learn his or her trade.
However, this happens rarely. I can think of only three or four
times when I have had service that was so truly bad that I
refused to tip.
Whom do you tip? Anyone who serves you and depends on tips
for his or her livelihood. Waiters, waitresses, and bartenders
should be tipped. Hosts and hostesses and tour guides should be
tipped. Barbers and hairdressers who do not own the business
should be tipped. So should cab drivers, provided, of course,
that they are honest. Doormen and ushers should also be tipped.
For example, when my wife and I went to Virginia Beach, we
tipped the waitresses at sit-down restaurants, but not at fast
food restaurants like McDonalds. When we went to a baseball game,
we tipped the usher who showed us to our seats and cleaned them
before we sat down. We also tipped the beer vendor.
It should also be noted that you do not tip if a restaurant
includes a service charge in your bill. Some restaurants do this
for all customers. Others, however, only do it for large groups.
For instance, a restaurant I go to for lunch in Washington adds a
service charge for parties of five or more people. In general, if
gratuities are included in the bill, tipping is not necessary. It
is always appropriate to ask whether the gratuity has been
included in the bill.
Lorraine Rovig, Director of the Job Opportunities for the
Blind Program, said that in her experience most sighted people
tip, but often blind people do not. If we want to have as much
respect as sighted people, then we should behave with the same
sensitivity to social expectations as sighted people do, and that
includes tipping.
At the National Center for the Blind members of the
Federation family are expected to clean our rooms before we
leave. We help in this way because it saves the organization's
hard-earned money and insures that future guests will have a
pleasant stay at the Center. Tipping is a lot like this; if you
tip, the people who do things for you will have a good impression
of you and hence of other blind people. If you don't tip, you
leave the impression that you (and unfortunately all other blind
people as well) don't know any better and are not worth serving.
To sum this up: whether or not you tip is not just important
to you and the people who serve you; it is important to other
blind people as well.
[Photo #7: Jeff Treptow stands and faces camera while holding microphone. Caption: Jeff Treptow]
ESCAPE FROM SLAVERY: FROM A SHELTERED WORKSHOP TO MY FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION
by Jeffrey J. Treptow
From the Editor: A slightly different version of the following article first appeared in the Fall, 1994, issue of the Braille Spectator, the publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Jeff Treptow was an NFB Scholarship winner in 1994. His story is a poignant reminder of the problems that still exist in both the nation's sheltered workshop and rehabilitation systems. Jeff did not want a production line job, and he had the ability to succeed in a different kind of work, but it took twenty years of struggle for him to see his dream come true. We must never forget his story or cease our efforts to help all the Jeff Treptows still fighting their lonely battles. Here is Jeff's story:
It was early evening in late March of 1974, and my mother
had just finished putting the supper dishes into the dishwasher.
"The Waltons" was almost over, and I was sitting in the den
watching the black-and-white TV when I heard Mom and Dad begin a
rather loud conversation.
It lasted only a few minutes, so I went back to watching TV.
But the lull lasted for only a short time. "Hawaii Five-O" had
barely started when another row erupted. My hopes for a quiet
evening flew out the window as the commotion continued. As the
argument grew louder, my curiosity increased. I got up and walked
to the kitchen door at the end of the hall to see what the
argument was about. It was about me.
The next morning I was supposed to go into Phoenix to meet
with a rehabilitation counselor who was going to enroll me in a
job-training program. According to the plans Mom and I had laid
out, I was to take the Sun Valley bus into Phoenix, transfer to a
city bus that would take me to the counselor's office, and go to
the training facility from there. The catch was that my dad would
have to take me to the Greyhound bus terminal, where the Sun
Valley bus departed, but Dad didn't want to be bothered. He felt
that I should stay home and collect SSI (Supplemental Security
Income) so that he could pocket the money.
That evening Mom finally convinced Dad to take me to the
counselor's office. The training program lasted approximately
three years, after which I landed only a temporary receptionist's
job at a non-profit agency that provided recreational activities
for the blind. With the end of that job I began a long period of
unemployment. I did not find another job because of a combination
of discrimination, the lack of transportation, and the
unwillingness of the state agency to help. I remained unemployed
for five years, and the skills I had acquired through the
training program got rusty, making me unemployable again. During
those five years I made frequent attempts to find other jobs.
During all this time my dad missed no opportunity to assure
me that no one would ever hire me and that my best bet was just
to stay home, collect my SSI checks, and hand over the money as
soon as the countable-resources limit was reached. Finally in
July of 1983, suffering from profound frustration and lack of
hope, I agreed to start working at Arizona Industries for the
Blind (AIB), a sheltered workshop operated by the Department of
Economic Security. I have suspected in the years since then that
my counselor may have maneuvered me into the shop by the
expedient of not providing me with the help I needed.
The sheltered workshop was located on the west side of
Phoenix, which meant that every day I had to endure a one-and-a-
half- to two-hour commute by bus from my parents' home in Mesa.
The only hope working in the sheltered shop gave me was that I
could someday get off SSI and not have to give any of my money to
my custodial father. Actually, as it turned out, I never did give
my father any of my money.
My job at the shop was folding items that were made in the
sewing room. My supervisor was a large German woman who looked
like she could throw a person across the room with her voice
alone. It was not a congenial place to work. I was depressed and
discouraged.
Shortly after I started work at Arizona Industries for the
Blind, my mother, who worked at Motorola, brought home an
application for a job opening. I filled it out and gave it to her
to submit to the personnel office. The simple act of applying for
another job gave me some hope that the future might be better.
Months passed, and I anxiously awaited the green light to abandon
the shop and begin a more meaningful career with a large
corporation. Several more months passed, and there was still no
word on my application at Motorola. By late November, 1983, I
finally admitted that the Motorola job was not going to come
through. Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and depression
overwhelmed me.
During the nine years I spent at the sheltered shop, I made
numerous unsuccessful attempts to find a better job. Even though
the shop served mainly as a dumping ground and place of exile
from the mainstream of the economy, by late June of 1984 I had
been able to save enough money to move from my parents' home in
Mesa into an apartment on the east side of Phoenix. This cut down
the commuting time somewhat and liberated me from the
custodianship my father tried to impose. It also provided relief
from the frequent bickering between Mother and Dad; it also
allowed me to do many things I could not have done while living
at home.
In 1984 there was almost no bus service in Mesa, which made
it difficult to get around. But despite the relative smoothness
of the transition, I was still somewhat apprehensive; however,
once the move was complete and I became accustomed to living on
my own, I couldn't imagine how I had stood living at home for so
long. For the first time I had the freedom to do the things I
wanted to do, like flying to Madison to visit my favorite aunt.
My life became more normal with this added freedom.
Then, in late April of 1992 the decrease in national
spending on defense caused downsizing among defense contractors.
Since defense and government contracts made up more than half of
all work done at AIB, the line workers faced inevitable layoffs.
I was laid off from the sheltered workshop in May of 1992, which
surprisingly gave me a feeling of uplift. For the first time in
nine years I could feel good about myself. During all the years
of working in the shop, it had become more and more difficult to
hope for something better. But along with the growing feeling of
hopelessness had come an insatiable desire for a better career.
It had taken an enormous amount of strength to persevere and not
to succumb to the resignation of staying in the sheltered shop
for the rest of my life and becoming beaten down and apathetic
like so many others.
During the following months I looked for another job, but I
could not find one--not even a part-time job to earn some extra
money. I recognized that I didn't have the skills needed to
pursue a more demanding career, so I decided to go back to school
to further my education. I went back to the vocational
rehabilitation agency to get my case reopened. At first my new
counselor seemed fairly open to what I wanted to do, but later
she told me that I should just wait until the shop called me
back.
This attitude angered me, and I was more determined than
ever to better myself so that I would not have to do menial
labor. The counselor maintained that menial labor was not so bad,
but by now I knew better than to listen to her. What she said
might be true for some people, but it was not true for me. One
evening in early September of 1992 I was watching the news and
getting my dinner when a story about computer training for the
disabled appeared. It focused my attention, so I grabbed a pen
and note pad to take down any phone number or address where more
information could be obtained.
The training program was at Goodwill Industries, and it had
just gotten started a few months earlier. I immediately made an
appointment to see about entering the program, but again my hopes
were dashed when I learned I needed the support of a
rehabilitation counselor to enter the program. I didn't think
there was a chance of bringing my counselor around, but I
approached her one more time--the result, continued resistance
and stonewalling. But later that month I wrote to her supervisor
to protest her negative attitude. I also wrote to the Client
Assistance Program (CAP) requesting assistance in dealing with
the agency and getting a new counselor. The agency eventually
caved in to my demands and gave me a new counselor. In January of
1993 I entered Phoenix College to begin working on a degree in
office automation.
Even though I now had a counselor who was willing to help
me, I was so anxious to get started with my education that I paid
for the first semester at Phoenix College out of my own pocket.
It seemed to me that, if I took the initiative to start
something, it would show the agency that I was worthy of
assistance. It would also demonstrate what I was determined to
accomplish. Once I started the first semester of school, I needed
to find a part-time job to earn some extra money to supplement my
$371-a-month disability check.
In the fall of 1993 I applied for a work-study grant and was
awarded funding. I took a job in the Phoenix College Psychology
Department Office as a clerk answering the phone, distributing
the mail, receiving visitors, and doing some typing and filing. I
also applied for a scholarship from the National Federation of
the Blind in early 1994. I was surprised to hear during May that
I had been chosen as a finalist. Being awarded the scholarship
and attending the national convention in Detroit represented a
major turning point in my life. I am now sure that I will never
have to return to sheltered workshops and custodialism as a way
of life. I only hope that my success will inspire the others I
left behind in the sheltered workshop, particularly at Arizona
Industries for the Blind.
For most of us a mid-life career change means a world of
uncertainty. For a visually impaired person, however, it may well
seem even more insurmountable. My mother deserves to share in my
newfound success and freedom. After all, she was the driving
force behind me in my twenty-year quest for a better life. She
was there for me from the start, from that evening in late March
of 1974 right up to the moment I received my scholarship. I was
sorry that she could not be at the banquet when I received my
scholarship.
Regardless of the problems and difficulties I have had to
face, I believe that I have done a good job of transforming
myself from a sheltered workshop worker to a person in a more
satisfying career. And if I can do it, I believe that any other
blind or visually impaired person can do the same thing.
OBJECTONS TO BLINDNESS RULES MOUNT
From the Editor: In recent months everyone in the blindness
field has been working--some more energetically than others--to
preserve the linkage that has existed for almost twenty years
between the earnings limits established for Social Security
recipients between the ages of sixty-five and seventy and those
for blind recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI). We lost the first round in the House of Representatives,
not because of Congressional sentiment that blind people didn't
deserve the benefit, but because the momentum to complete the
Contract with America was too great to correct a mistake that
Speaker Gingrich and many others recognized had been made in the
provisions of the legislation.
We are now working to see that language preserving that
linkage appears in the Senate version of the bill in the hope
that the conference committee will eventually see that blind SSDI
recipients as well as seniors who would like to work and still
receive their Social Security pensions can earn an increased
amount without losing their stipends.
Accomplishing this extremely desirable goal will not be
easy. Many have assumed that, because the linkage has been
present for eighteen years, it will inevitably be preserved. They
are wrong. There is nothing inevitable about the process, and
there are many in the wider disability field who look at the
higher earnings limit that the blind have received and see it,
not as the thin end of a wedge that might be used to win a
similar benefit, but as an unfair advantage that one group of
disabled people has enjoyed. There is no question that many other
severely disabled people deserve and could benefit from higher
earnings limits in the SSDI Program. It is also true that without
the legal definition of a disability, like that for blindness,
defining severe impairments is a complicated problem. But none of
this diminishes the pressure we face in trying to preserve the
earnings-limit linkage for blind SSDI recipients.
It behooves all of us in the blindness field to roll up our
sleeves and work together in the coming weeks to undo the damage
that has been done and raise the earnings limits for blind SSDI
recipients to match those for retirees. The following editorial
demonstrates just how much more difficult this job will become in
the months and years ahead. It appeared in the March 28, 1995,
edition of The Washington Post. Here it is:
A Penalty for Extraordinary Effort
The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal on Monday in a
case that illustrates the difficulty of fairly administering
federal programs designed to help the grittiest of its citizens.
This matter involved a disabled man, but it has application also
to the whole panoply of means-tested benefits programs. It
represents the irony of penalizing those who most want to break
out of a cycle of dependency.
Paul Spragens, who lives in Wyoming, suffers from a
congenital deformity of the joints that has left him with no use
of his arms and only limited use of his legs. He gets around in a
mobilized wheelchair, works as a self-employed indexer of books,
and types with his toes. The determination and strength of
character necessary to follow this course are extraordinary. But
the income derived from this work must be supplemented by Social
Security disability payments.
In 1986 Mr. Spragens lost his disability assistance because
his average monthly income for that year was $349.26. The law
states that he must be dropped from the rolls if his earnings
exceed $300 a month. He contested that law in court not because
it is inherently unreasonable or beyond the power of Congress to
enact. Instead he claimed he had been denied equal protection of
the law because disabled people who are blind are allowed to earn
$650 a month, while everyone else is restricted to $300. He has
lost his case, and the courts are undoubtedly right. It may not
be fair that the blind, who have particularly skillful advocates
in Washington, receive an advantage. But the distinction made in
the law is not irrational, and acts of Congress are entitled to a
presumption of constitutionality.
Alas, the solution for Mr. Spragens is to stop trying so
hard. Take a week off every month. Earn less and be given more.
This somewhat cynical calculation, of course, is the one that
must be made by families on public assistance all the time. There
must be clear guidelines and cutoffs at some point for every
welfare program. But when the consequences of trying harder and
earning a little more are so abrupt and severe, the natural
tendency is to cut back and keep the benefits. As the welfare
overhaul continues, this quite obvious paradox is at the core of
the reform: how can society encourage a return to work when that
option carries so many penalties for those who would take it up?
From the Editor: Curtis Chong, President of the National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science, has just passed along the following information which he says is important and will be interesting to anyone concerned about blind people's access to the National Information Infrastructure and to the increasing number of touchscreen information panels in use today in public places. It was prepared by Dr. Gregg Vanderheiden, of the Trace Center. Here it is:
Recently, much attention has been given to the National
Information Infrastructure (NII), and the impact it will have on
the dissemination of public and private information. A critical
issue in creating interfaces to such information systems is to
ensure that, as interfaces become more user-friendly to some
populations, they do not become more inaccessible to others.
Access to the Internet or to touchscreen-based information
systems, for example, can be difficult or impossible for people
who are blind because of graphical presentation of information or
touchscreen interfaces. The explosive growth of the Internet,
combined with the increasing use of kiosks in settings across the
country, has made accessibility an urgent issue. As part of
Project Info Curbcuts, strategies are being developed and
implemented to provide alternate access to such information
technology.
Project Info Curbcuts, spearheaded by the Trace Research and
Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and
part of the Universal Access Project, is an international effort
to ensure that next-generation information systems are accessible
to all people. As part of the 1995 National Federation of the
Blind Convention, the Trace Center, World Institute on
Disability, and CPB/WGBH will be sponsoring a special resource
and demonstration room, to which all convention attendees are
invited. The room will feature demonstrations of a Talking
Fingertip technique, a technique which allows alternate access to
touchscreen-based information systems. Internet access will also
be demonstrated and will include discussion of Mosaic, NetScape,
and DosLynx programs for the World Wide Web, plus Gopher and FTP
(File Transfer Protocol). The Info Curbcuts room at the Chicago
Hilton and Towers Hotel will be open Sunday, July 2, from 9:30 to
noon and 1:00 to 5:30, and Monday, July 3, from 9:00 to noon and
1:00 to 5:30 p.m.
Further information about Project Info Curbcuts can be
obtained by writing to Trace Research and Development Center,
Room S151 Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison,
Wisconsin 53705, e-mail: [email protected], (608) 262-6966,
(608) 263-5408 (TDD), or fax (608) 262-8848.
[Photo #8: Barbara Pierce sits in a rocking chair in front of a large brick fireplace and reads a book in Braille. Caption: Barbara Pierce]
From the Editor: A number of us have felt for some time that
there was a need for a small, easy-to-read compilation of
articles about the importance of Braille. Many of the new Braille
literacy laws around the country require that parents be given
pertinent information about Braille before they are asked to
express their opinion in an IEP meeting about whether or not
their blind children should be taught Braille. We wanted
something that would express our conviction that Braille is an
efficient and useful tool and that blind people benefit greatly
from being taught to read and write it as early as possible.
The World Under My Fingers, published in large-print paperback by the National
Federation of the Blind and edited by Barbara Pierce, is our attempt to meet
this need. Many of the essays were first published in the Braille Monitor;
several others were written specially for this publication. It is available
from the Materials Center, National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21230, telephone 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time (410) 659-9314.
The cost for a single copy is $1. A carton of fifty is available for $50.
The following letter is the first article in the book. Here
it is:
Open Letter to Parents
by Barbara Pierce
Can you remember the intoxication of learning to read? I
can. When I began first grade, the Scott-Foresman primers about
the adventures of Dick, Jane, and Sally were in use, and I still
remember the picture of Dick standing on his shoulders in a pile
of leaves, feet kicking in the air, while one of his sisters
intoned the page's text, "Look at Dick! Funny, funny Dick!"
Had I but known it, those early weeks of first grade were the
high point of my reading career. We gathered around the teacher
in reading groups to sound out the words and falter our way
through each page. I was good at it. I understood the principles
of picking out the sound of each letter and shoving them together
rapidly enough to guess at the meaning. The result was that I was
in the first reading group.
My success didn't last long. By second semester each page
bore many more lines of print, and my mother was forced to work
with me at home after school or before bed to help me keep up.
For I was what they called a low-vision child. I could see the
print with only one eye, and I am certain that I was legally
blind, though no one ever used that word in my hearing. Mother
placed a little lamp close to the page so that I could see as
well as possible, but the letters were still blurred, and I could
never get the hang of reading an entire word at once.
By second grade I was in the second reading group, and by
third grade I had slipped to the third group, despite the lamp
now clipped to the side of my desk. I had to face the truth: I
was dumb. I lay awake at night worrying about the increasing
number of spelling workbook exercises left undone because my
reading and writing were too slow to complete them in class. I
still maintained an unbroken string of perfect spelling tests
because my parents drilled me on the spelling lists every week.
The tests were nothing, but the workbook! I fantasized about what
it would be like to go to bed at night and not stare open-eyed
into the black prospect of mortification when the truth about me
and my incomplete work eventually came to my parents' notice.
It happened at the close of the third marking period, and it
came, as such things do, like a bolt from the blue. I had
actually brought home what I thought was a good report card--all
A's and B's--except for art, penmanship, and gym, in which I
always got C's. Everybody knew that I was terrible at those
things because "Barbara's blind as a bat." But the dreaded
unmasking of my shameful secret in the spelling workbook seemed
to me to have remained hidden beneath an A for yet one more
grading period. I handed my mother my report card and ran out to
play. But when my brother and I were called in for dinner (Dad
was out of town at the time), I knew that something was wrong;
Mother had been crying, and she did not sit down to dinner with
us. She said that she had a headache. It soon became apparent
that I was the headache. My report card had betrayed me after
all. In all that hard-to-read small print at the bottom the
teacher had given me a U (unsatisfactory) in the puts-forth-best-
effort category, where I was used to getting E's(Excellent) or at
least S's (satisfactory).
Mother went to school the next day and learned the horrible
truth about me. I was astonished to learn afterward that the
relief of having my shameful secret out in the open actually
reduced my burden. True, I had to make up all the work I had been
avoiding because the reading had become too difficult. Play time
was much reduced, and I had to learn all over again how to go to
sleep without worrying, but things were never again as bad.
In the following years we tried magnifying glasses for my
good right eye, and the summer after fourth grade I had to be
tutored in an effort to learn to read with high magnification. In
September of fifth grade my new teacher called on me to read a
paragraph in the geography book during the class lesson. I read
like a second grader, and I was mortified. The teacher never
called on me again. By sixth grade I was hardly using the glasses
at all. I was quick to learn as long as I didn't have to struggle
to make sense of the print, and it was easier on everyone for the
teacher to assign a rapid reader to work with me on in-class
reading projects.
Finally, at the close of seventh grade, my parents faced the
painful truth: if I were to have any hope of literacy, I would
have to learn Braille. Print was no longer an option. I mastered
the Braille code in a summer of weekly lessons taught by a woman
who used Braille herself, though she admitted that she was not a
good Braille reader. She assured me that her husband could read
Braille rapidly, but I never heard him or anyone else use the
code efficiently. People told me it was important to use my
Braille and that practice would increase my speed. But by that
point in my education I had already worked out alternative ways
of getting my reading and writing done, and I was no longer eager
to crawl down a page of text as we had done in early elementary
school. I practiced writing Braille with my slate and stylus
because I knew that in college I would need a good way of taking
notes in lectures, but I never made time to learn to read Braille
properly.
Now that I am a member of the National Federation of the
Blind, I know hundreds of people who read Braille easily and
well. Some of them could not see print when they were beginning
school, so Braille was the only option for them. But many more
could make out print when they were learning to read, even though
as adults they cannot see it. They were lucky enough to be taught
Braille along with print, and they simply and naturally learned
to decide which method would be most useful for each reading
task. As a result they now read Braille at several hundred words
a minute.
I have never regretted learning to read print. Everyone
should know the shapes of print letters, but I will always
bitterly regret that I was not taught Braille as a small child.
Today I am struggling to gain the speed and accuracy in reading
Braille that I should have had by the time I was ten. I have now
been working at it for more than six years, and my reading speed
has tripled, but I must face the fact that I will probably never
read as well as a bright ten-year-old. Setting aside the fact
that the adult brain does not master new skills as rapidly as
does a child's, I cannot bring myself to practice reading aloud
to my long-suffering family. The time for taking advantage of
such an opportunity is childhood, and I cannot inflict my
stumbling reading on my husband.
If my mother could speak to you who are facing the dilemma
of whether or not to demand that your children learn Braille, she
would urge you to decide in favor of Braille. No matter how
clearly a youngster can see print at the moment, if the vision is
fragile or problematic in any way, Braille will often become
invaluable in the future, even if print too continues to be
useful. I urge you to keep your child's options open and your
expectations high. All young things need space to stretch and
grow within their God-given abilities. Please insist that your
child be given a chance.
[Photo #9: State Senator Jeannine Long stoops to embrace Haille Linhart who is holding her NFB cane in the state capitol building. Caption: State Senator Jeannine Long, sponsor of Washington's Braille literacy bill, is pictured here with nine-year-old Federationist Haille Linhart at a legislative reception.]
A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN LITERACY
by Bennett Prows
From the Editor: Bennett Prows is one of the leaders of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington state. He recently sent us the following report on affiliate efforts to pass a bill protecting the right of the state's blind children to learn Braille. Here it is:
January 26, 1995, marked a turning point for Braille
literacy in Washington State and was a watershed for the National
Federation of the Blind of Washington. The State Capitol in
Olympia will never be the same, and from now on the blind will be
recognized as a force to be reckoned with in the state
legislature.
This year efforts to secure the passage of the Braille bill
in Washington State were punctuated by the activities surrounding
a day that has become known here as Braille Literacy Day. But
this year's day was different. The NFB was joined in Olympia by
virtually every statewide organization of and for the blind on
January 26, 1995, to promote Braille and Braille literacy. Tables
were set up between the House and Senate Galleries to exhibit the
various agencies' and organizations' support of the use of
Braille. The NFB organized the exhibits and invited the
Washington State School for the Blind, the Department of Services
for the Blind, the Braille Access Center for the Blind, the
Washington Council of the Blind, and the Washington Talking Book
and Braille Library to join our effort to educate the public
about the need for Braille literacy. Federationists and other
blind persons from throughout the State of Washington fanned out
over the capitol grounds to give virtually every legislator and
legislative office the message that Braille is important for
blind students in Washington State. Packets of material about the
NFB and about the 1995 version of our Braille bill were
distributed, and key legislators in Senate and House Education
committees were personally contacted.
We emphasized the unanimity this year on the need for the
Braille bill and urged the representatives and senators to act
quickly to give Washington's blind children the right to learn
and use Braille.
A press release issued by the NFB was distributed to all of
the major newspapers and radio and television stations in the
State. The release explained that there is a crisis in effective
teaching of Braille to blind citizens and told the media about
the educational efforts being conducted at the State Capitol. The
blind came from every part of the state, and this year more than
ever, the prospects for passage of a meaningful Braille bill look
bright.
The highlight of the day came when the National Federation
of the Blind of Washington hosted a legislative reception for
more than one hundred guests at the governor's mansion on the
capitol grounds. Thanks to the hard work of Denise Mackenstadt,
Barbara Freeman, and other Federationists throughout the state,
nearly twenty-five legislators attended the festive reception.
Governor Mike Lowry and his wife Mary attended for more than an
hour. We greeted the guests at the door and introduced the many
guests to one another. The food prepared by the Governor's staff
was excellent and, of course, was a big draw for hungry
legislative aides and other capitol staff members. This event
gave us the chance we needed to push for our vital legislation
and to show the legislators that the blind are first-class
citizens in every way when given the training in the alternative
techniques and skills of blindness, such as Braille.
Few groups or organizations are invited to hold receptions
in the governor's mansion, and the NFB was put on an exclusive
list. From now on there is no question about who leads the blind
in Washington State. The power and influence of the organized
blind movement will be felt. Whether we win the fight for a
Braille literacy bill this year or next or the year after that,
let there be no mistake--we will not quit until the blind have
the same right to read and write with confidence and competency
as our sighted peers.
This year's Braille Literacy Day was a giant step forward in
the affairs of the blind in Washington. Judging by the reaction
of the lawmakers and staff attending the reception, we will be
heard. President Gary Mackenstadt and all other Federationists
here will not rest until blind children and their parents no
longer have to fight to receive instruction in reading and
writing Braille.
[Photo #10: Steve Benson sits at a table behind a microphone preparing to write with slate and stylus. Caption: Steve Benson]
by Bob Herguth
From the Editor: The Chicago Sun-Times carries a column called "Chicago Profile." It is exactly what its title suggests--a brief, (thirty-five computer-screen lines in length) almost shorthand description of an interesting Chicago resident. On April 26, 1995, the subject of the column was NFB of Illinois President and member of the national organization's board of directors Steve Benson. Here it is:
Stephen O. Benson
At Public Library
He's a public relations specialist in the Chicago Public
Library's communications office, has been there since June, 1991.
He works at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State.
Despite Blindness
Because he's blind, he types on a computer terminal that has
voice output. He writes news releases, public service
announcements, story ideas. Works on special projects, handles
calls. He interviewed authors as host of "The Write Stuff" on
municipal cable TV.
About His Sight
His retinal degenerative condition was "discovered when I
was two or three." In fifth grade he was transferred from Lincoln
to Bell School and learned Braille. He earned a DePaul degree.
Big Reader
He checks out books, in Braille and on tape, from the
Regional Library for the Blind, 1055 W. Roosevelt. Last year he
read 150 books: "ninety-five kids' books I read to my son, and
fifty-five others."
Earlier Career
Taught English at Gordon Tech. Then taught Braille and
living skills at Hines VA Hospital's Blind Rehab Center. Was
assistant director of Guild for the Blind: teaching, directing
PR, writing grant proposals.
On National Board
He's on the board of the National Federation of the Blind,
serves on its scholarship committee. He's president of the
Federation's Illinois affiliate. It hosts the National Convention
here July 1 to 7.
Played Sports
"As a kid and into my thirties I played softball,
basketball, and football. When I was quarterback throwing a pass,
the receiver would yell some audible signal. Opposing ball
carriers had to make a noise. Softball, I would balance the ball
on all five fingers when batting. When I'd pitch, the catcher
would clap or make some sound. In basketball the ball and the
players' feet make sounds. You learn where the basket is by other
sounds."
Stats
Wife Peg is an attorney with CNA. Son Patrick is nine. They
live in Edgebrook. He goes to work by CTA bus and subway. Now
fifty-three. When he was young, mom Edythe "taught me about
puppetry." He was a part-time puppeteer for seventeen years.
Advice to Son
"If you can read and read well, you can do whatever you
want. Almost every career you enter requires reading, and most
require good writing skill. If you're a good writer, you can
almost write your own ticket."
[Photo #11: Four Ionic columns at the front entrance and eight caryatids embellishing the side exterior form the front entrance of this large white Georgian marble building. Caption: The exterior of the Field Museum is closely patterned after the Erechtheium, one of the Athenian Acropolis temples. The Field Museum was founded in 1893 at the close of the World's Columbian Exposition. On May 2, 1921, the Field Museum opened at its present location at Lake Shore Drive and Roosevelt Road, just south of downtown Chicago.
by Stephen O. Benson
From the Editor: If you are reading this article within a few days of receiving the June issue of the Braille Monitor, you probably still have time to make your convention reservation at the Hilton and Towers Hotel for the 1995 convention of the National Federation of the Blind, July 1 to 8. The telephone number for reservations is (312) 922-4400. But you don't have much time. Read this last installment of the "Chicago Notebook" for a few more reasons why you don't want to miss the convention, and make your reservation today. Now here is what Steve Benson, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, has to say:
In the February Braille Monitor
I described two of Chicago's finest museums and the four-year-old Harold Washington
Library Center--all within easy walking distance of our convention hotel. This
issue will continue the walking tour of the City by the Lake. We will begin
with another museum.
Five blocks from the Hilton and Towers Hotel stands the
Field Museum, Chicago's museum of natural history. Founded in
1893 to house an extraordinary collection gathered for the Worlds
Columbian Exposition, the museum moved to its present location at
the south end of Grant Park in 1921. The nine-acre facility is
dedicated to the study of the earth's physical environments and
human cultures. The museum, named in honor of Marshal Field, is a
world-class center for scientific study and a fascinating
adventure for all who visit it.
Most of the museum's exhibits and specimens are behind glass
or are out of reach; however, there are many interactive
exhibits. For example, the "Inside Ancient Egypt" exhibit
provides an opportunity to explore a life-size replica of the
tomb of Unis-Ankh, son of the pharaoh King Unis, 2400 B.C. Tour
the upper level of the Mastabe Tomb and then descend the thirty-
five-foot shaft to the burial chamber below. Escape through a
tomb robber's tunnel to a chamber containing twenty-three
mummies. You will find a 14,000-pound stone door that is said to
separate the real world from the afterworld.
The Inside-Ancient-Egypt exhibit permits you to walk along
the banks of a Nile river marsh and lift the water of the Nile
with a simple lever device called a shaduf. Examine the funerary
boat of Pharaoh Senwosret, III. You become an ancient Egyptian
when you try to pull a three-ton stone block on a sled just as
the pyramid builders did. Complete your journey through ancient
Egypt in an authentic market place. Try out an Egyptian bed, or
learn about hieroglyphs.
Among its 19,000,000 specimens the Field Museum counts a
930-pound thigh bone of a giant dinosaur. Not surprisingly, this
object is right out where the public can touch it; after all, who
could walk away with it?
Other exhibits at the Field Museum depict a Pacific beach,
the cultures of the northwestern United States and Alaska, and a
lava flow. There are special dinosaur exhibits and many other
fascinating attractions. In the summer the Museum is open every
day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is no admission charge on
Wednesdays; otherwise adults must pay $5.00, children and senior
citizens $3.00. For more information or for directions to the
Field Museum, stop at the Illinois suite or the Illinois
information desk.
Five blocks north of the Hilton and Towers, on Michigan at
the foot of Adams street, is the world-renowned Art Institute of
Chicago. Part of its fabulous art collection is beautifully
reproduced in the NFB's 1995 calendar. Unfortunately, virtually
none of the art can be touched. For those who can see the art, a
trip to the Art Institute is well worth the time and effort.
Two blocks north of the Hilton and Towers, at the northwest
corner of Congress Parkway and Michigan, stands one of Chicago's
jewels, the Auditorium Theater. This structure designed as a
hotel and concert hall by Louis Sullivan and Dankar Adler, opened
its doors in 1889. The hotel portion of the building now serves
as Roosevelt University. The theater, with its nearly perfect
acoustics, is a rather active site for major concerts and plays.
On the southwest corner of Congress Parkway and Michigan,
stands the 800-room Congress Hotel, which opened its doors in
1892. Four blocks north of the hotel you will find the downtown
campus of DePaul University. DePaul opened in 1898 as the first
Catholic coeducational university in the United States. Almost
five blocks north of the hotel is Orchestra Hall, home of one of
the world's three finest symphony orchestras. Orchestra Hall
opened in 1905.
In a city of more than 2.8 million people, there are
understandably thousands of restaurants of all kinds with an
amazing range of quality. Within easy walking distance of the
hotel there are a number of restaurants worth your time, energy,
and means. One of these, the Berghoff, has been a Chicago
tradition since 1898. In the ninety-eight years since its
founding, the Berghoff Restaurant has been operated by one family
at its present site, 17 West Adams.
Herman Joseph Berghoff was born in Dortmund, Germany, in
1852. He immigrated to the United States in 1870 and established
the Berghoff Brewery in Indiana. The Berghoffs came to Chicago to
sell beer at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Their suds
were so well received that they moved their operation to the
Windy City.
The Berghoff looks as it did at the turn of the century. Its
unique dark wood, artwork, and tiled floor are accents to its
bustling energy. The restaurant's extensive menu of course has
standard German favorites, but the German dishes represent only
30 percent of the menu. There is good, solid, American fare; and
the owners are very careful to keep apace with changing trends in
dining habits. The restaurant seats 700 people, and it is very
often full.
Please check with the Illinois suite or the Illinois
information desk for more details. One thing is certain: if you
visit Chicago, you have to eat at least one meal at the Berghoff.
A short cab ride away from the Hilton and Towers is a
Chicago legend, the Como Inn. For seventy years the Marchetti
family has played host to Chicagoans and visitors from around the
world. The Como Inn features food from all regions of Italy in a
complex with a capacity of 1,100 people. Though that may sound
overwhelming, the restaurant is divided in such a way that
patrons can be seated in an alcove large enough for two or in a
ballroom for 250. The food is excellent, the prices are fair, and
the service is efficient and well-paced. It's no wonder that the
Como Inn has been a fixture in Chicago for seventy years.
Let's make one more restaurant stop; it is a short taxi ride
from the hotel, although the sturdy of leg can walk the mile plus
to my favorite pizza emporium. Pizzeria Uno at Wabash and Ohio
invented the Chicago-style deep dish pizza and since 1943 has
maintained a level of quality that is truly unique in the
restaurant business. Very few restaurants are worth standing in
line for; the true pizza connoisseur will agree that Uno's is one
place that does not disappoint.
There are many other attractions in downtown Chicago that
deserve visitors' attention: trading on the Chicago Board of
Trade Floor; a visit to Marshall Field Department Store; a stroll
along north Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile); a visit to
Legends, one of Chicago's most outstanding blues night clubs,
across the street from the Hilton and Towers.
July in Chicago is normally an excellent time of year
weatherwise. The average daytime temperature is eighty-three
degrees; the average nighttime temperature is sixty-three
degrees. Once in a while we experience variations in those
temperatures. At times in July Chicago even gets hot. But mostly
the prevailing breezes off Lake Michigan keep us cool and
comfortable. Chicago is the place you will want to be from July 1
to July 8. The Illinois affiliate will be at the Hilton to greet
you with the kind of caring enthusiasm one would expect from
family. We have surprises planned for you. Come to the Convention
and see what they are.
One more reminder: please make reservations immediately for
one of the nine tours we have arranged for you. An immediate
reservation will help our tour company in planning for the proper
number of buses for each tour. Please call (312) 341-0221 for
information and reservations. See you at the 1995 NFB Convention.
If you or a friend would like to remember the National Federation of the
Blind in your will, you can do so by employing the following language:
"I give, devise, and bequeath unto National Federation of the Blind,
1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, a District of Columbia
nonprofit corporation, the sum of $_____ (or "_____ percent of my net estate"
or "The following stocks and bonds: _____") to be used for its worthy purposes
on behalf of blind persons."
This month's recipes come from members of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.
[Photo #12: Portrait Caption: Colleen Roth]
RED DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE
by Colleen Roth
Colleen Roth is a member of the Board of Directors of the NFB of Ohio and chairs the Network on Blind, Multiply Handicapped Children, conducted by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, a division of the National Federation of the Blind. Colleen received this recipe from her grandmother. It first appeared in a German cookbook in the 1890's. The frosting recipe first appeared on a confectioners sugar box in the early 1930's. If the cake is made correctly, both the batter and the chocolate cake are actually red in color. Follow the directions exactly if you want true devil's food.
Ingredients:
2« cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vinegar
1 cup boiling water (it must be boiling)
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 cup shortening
3 eggs
3/4 cup cocoa
4 cups flour
Method: Combine milk and vinegar and let stand for a few minutes in a warm place to allow milk to sour. The mixture will develop soft curds. Cream sugar, shortening, vanilla, and eggs until smooth. Add sour milk and then flour. Then combine boiling water, cocoa, and soda. Add this mixture to batter and mix well. Bake at 350 degrees in one ungreased or lightly greased 13-by-9 or three 9-inch round cake pans for twenty-five to thirty minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. This recipe also makes great cupcakes. Bake these for twenty minutes. If you add an extra cup of flour, you can make drop cookies. Ice all of these with the following frosting:
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
1 egg
pinch of salt
6 soup spoonfuls of cocoa
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons margarine or butter
Method: Mix all ingredients together and heat. Then beat in a mixer until mixture reaches frosting consistency. This recipe will cover one batch of cookies, cupcakes, or the sheet cake. If you like lots of frosting, double it for the layer cake. You can also add a little milk and turn the frosting into an ice cream topping.
POTATO CHEESE CASSEROLE
by Mary Pool
Mary Pool is President of the Stark County Chapter of the NFB of Ohio and a member of the affiliate's Board of Directors. For many years she chaired a catering group in her church. The following recipe was one of the group's most popular menu items.
Ingredients:
10 large potatoes
2 small onions, chopped
1/2 pound Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup margarine or butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
Method: Boil potatoes, peel, and cube as you would for potato salad. Mix all ingredients except milk, and place in a 9- by-13-inch pan. This recipe can be prepared to this point the day before. Just add the milk at the time of baking. Bake in a 350- degree oven for thirty to forty minutes. If mixture is soupy after baking, add more bread crumbs and bake for an additional ten minutes.
To serve 100 people, modify the amounts of ingredients as
follows:
40 pounds potatoes
3 to 4 medium onions, chopped
3 pounds Velveeta cheese, cubed
5 cups milk
8 tablespoons dried parsley
2 cups bread crumbs
1-1/2 cups margarine or butter, melted
5 teaspoons salt
HONEY BAKED CHICKEN
by Cheryl Fischer
Cheryl Fischer is the President of the Cuyahoga County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
3 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup dijon mustard
1/4 cup white cooking wine
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 to 3 whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2« pounds)
Method: Toast sesame seeds in small frying pan over medium heat, three to five minutes, shaking pan frequently. Pour into bowl and stir in honey, mustard, lemon juice, and wine. Rinse chicken and pat dry. Arrange chicken in 9-by-13-inch baking pan and pour sauce over top. Bake at 400 degrees, basting regularly for fifteen to twenty minutes. Pour pan juices into bowl and serve along with chicken.
BANANA DESSERT
by Cheryl Fischer
Ingredients:
1 banana
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
walnuts, chopped
1 to 2 teaspoons honey
Method: Chop banana into bowl. Pour milk over bananas, sprinkle walnuts over top, and drizzle with honey.
BLACK BEAN AND PORK STEW
by Cheryl Fischer
Ingredients:
4 cups water
1/4 cup dry black beans (or other kind)
2 hot chilies
3/4 pound lean pork, boneless shoulder
1« cup tomatoes, chopped, peeled, seeded (can use whole from can)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup dry red cooking wine
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 cups of 1-inch cubed pieces of butternut squash
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Method: Heat water, beans, and chilies to boiling in pot. Let boil two minutes and remove from heat. Cover and let stand one hour. Remove chilies, heat beans to boiling, and reduce heat. Simmer one hour in covered pot. Remove seeds from chilies and coarsely chop the pepper. Remove fat from pork and cut meat into 1-inch cubes. Stir pork, chilies, tomatoes, onion, wine, sage, marjoram, salt, cumin, cinnamon, and garlic. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer thirty minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in squash, cover, and simmer twenty to thirty minutes longer, or until squash is tender. Stir in bell peppers and cilantro, cover and simmer five more minutes.
YELLOW RICE
by Cheryl Fischer
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, sliced into strips
1 cup frozen peas
1 teaspoon paprika (to make rice yellow)
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups uncooked converted white rice
4 cups water
Method: Heat oil, garlic, onion, and pepper in 4-quart pot. Saut till tender. Add water, rice, salt, paprika, and peas. Cover pot and simmer over low heat till rice is tender and liquid is absorbed (about twenty to twenty-five minutes).
[Photo #13: Portrait Caption: Kathy Arthurs]
STUFFED BREAST OF LAMB
by Kathy Arthurs
Kathy Arthurs is the President of the Parents of Blind Children Division of the NFB of Ohio.
Ingredients:
3 pounds boned breast of lamb
1« teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon onion, minced
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup margarine or butter
8 cups soft bread crumbs
1/8 teaspoon sage
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup mint jelly
1/4 cup vinegar
4 tablespoons flour
2 cups cold water
Method: Sprinkle lamb with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Saut onion and celery in butter until browned slightly. Add bread crumbs and cook one minute, mixing gently. Remove from heat and add remaining salt, remaining pepper, sage, nutmeg, thyme, and egg. Toss with fork until well mixed. Place stuffing on one side of each piece of the lamb and fold other side over stuffing, making three or four rolls. Tie each roll with string and place on a covered dish for baking. Bake uncovered in 450- degree oven for fifteen minutes. Add the boiling water, cover, and bake at 350 degrees for 1 3/4 hours, basting often. Spread with mint jelly and vinegar combined. Bake uncovered for thirty minutes longer or until tender, basting often. Pour off excess fat, leaving four tablespoons in the pan with drippings. Add flour, blend, and add two cups cold water. Cook until smooth. Season to taste and serve with the lamb. Serves six.
MATZO BALLS
by Kathy Arthurs
Ingredients:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup butter
2-1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
Method: Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla. Work in flour, salt, and nuts until dough holds together. Shape into small one-inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for ten to twelve minutes. Remove from pan and roll in powdered sugar. Cool and roll in sugar again.
24-HOUR CABBAGE SALAD
by Pat Eschbach
Pat Eschbach is the Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and a well known and deeply loved Federationist.
Ingredients:
4 pounds cabbage, sliced thin or grated
2 green peppers, grated
2 carrots, grated
1 onion, grated
Dressing:
1 tablespoon gelatin softened in 1/4 cup cold water
1« cups sugar
1 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup salad oil
Method: Combine first four ingredients and place in a cloth bag or cheese-cloth-lined colander to drain. After placing the gelatin in cold water, heat the sugar and vinegar to dissolve sugar. When the mixture is cool, add celery seed, salt, and pepper. Add gelatin and cool to the thickness of cream. Then add salad oil. (If you add the oil too soon, dressing will separate.) Mix dressing with the sliced and grated vegetables and place in refrigerator for twenty-four hours. This will keep for several days. The flavor gets better as it stands, making it a fine salad to prepare ahead of the occasion for which it is to be used. Actually Pat reports that this salad will keep for weeks rather than days under refrigeration.
[Photo #14: Portrait Caption: Peggy Chong]
** The Word Gets Around:
Peggy Chong recently wrote us the following note:
Some time ago the Metro Chapter of the National Federation
of the Blind of Minnesota purchased several copies of the NFB
fifty-year history book, Walking Alone and Marching Together. We
intended to give copies to a few libraries that did not have the
book in hopes that other libraries would see the need to have it
in their collections as well. In 1991 after the book came out,
our chapter did a great job at convincing the city and county
libraries to add the book to their collections. So this year our
focus was on colleges and universities.
One of our members began calling the school libraries and
was amazed to find that most institutions of higher education in
our state already have purchased the book.
Our state convention last fall was held in Mankato, where
there is a state university that we thought did not have the
book. Because the university has a rehabilitation-counseling
department that trains students to become rehab counselors, we
felt that it was important that our book be in the library. So
the Friday morning of the convention, Jon Ice and I went to the
library staff and presented them with our history, the Kernel
Book series, and other information about the National Federation
of the Blind.
We will keep looking for places that need our book in their
collections. But the job is getting harder, which means that we
are getting the word out.
Congratulations to the NFB of Minnesota; keep up the good
work.
** Study Materials Available:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Just published is Audio-Forum's newest Whole World Language
Catalog. The fifty-six page edition, available free, features the
world's largest selection of self-instructional audio-cassette-
based language courses in ninety-one languages. The courses,
including English, are offered at various levels of learning, all
emphasizing the spoken language. There are references to a
printed text for which you will need the assistance of a reader.
In addition to the popular traditional Spanish, Italian, and
French language courses, there are hard-to-find programs, like
Greek, Ukrainian, and Mohawk.
A typical course consists of fifteen to eighteen hours of
recording on twelve cassettes plus a 200-page book. The self-
study method is basic--listen and imitate, the same method
children use to learn to talk. Only native-born speakers are
recorded, ensuring correct, natural pronunciation and intonation
of the standard version of each language.
In addition to self-study foreign language courses, Audio-
Forum offers audio-cassette products from a variety of subject
areas, including literature, personal development, religion and
philosophy, and English as a second language.
To obtain a copy or copies of Audio-Forum catalog(s), please
call toll-free at (800) 243-1234, or send your request to Audio-
Forum, 96 Broad Street, Guilford, Connecticut 06437. When placing
your order, please state that you are a Braille Monitor
subscriber, that you are blind or visually handicapped, and that
you qualify for Audio-Forum's special twenty-five percent
discount.
** For Sale:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
I have for sale a Braille 'n Speak 640 in excellent
condition. It includes a carrying case, earphone, battery
charger, serial cable, and computer accessories. Asking $1,000 or
best offer. If interested write or call Linda Crisp, 219 Bryant
Street, Bulivar, Tennessee 38008, or phone (901) 658-6050.
[Photo #15: Portrait Caption: Sally Ruemmler]
** Toll-Free Help Now Available to Parents of Deaf-Blind
Children:
The Parents of Deaf-Blind Children Partnership is pleased to
announce a toll-free line for parents or other care-givers who
need information and encouragement about issues regarding deaf-
blindness. The number is (800) 859-4111. This line is available
only to parents and other family care-givers. Professionals and
others may call (913) 764-2444. Sally Ruemmler chairs this
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children activity, and
her address is 401 North Pinon Street, Olathe, Kansas 66061-5924.
** Honored:
Ramona Walhof, Secretary of the National Federation of the
Blind and President of the NFB of Idaho, reports the following
coverage of the affiliate's presentation of its prestigious
Thelander Award at its recent convention:
On April 10, 1995, The Idaho Business Review carried an
article titled "Blind Federation Honors Boise Pair." The text
reads:
Barbara and Gerald Wannamaker of Boise have received the
Thelander Award for their fund-raising efforts and support from
the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho.
The Thelander Award is the highest award given by the NFB-I
and usually is presented to a statesman. This is the first time
ever for the award to go to a couple outside of the political
arena or the Federation.
Gerald is the executive vice president of Kit Manufacturing
in Caldwell, and Barbara is involved in the Radio Reading to the
Blind Program and an advisory board member for Resources for the
Blind.
The couple presents an annual celebrity art and dinner event
with proceeds benefiting the blind. This year's event is
scheduled for November 11 at Peter Schott's Restaurant in Boise.
** Elected:
Joe Triplett, President of the National Federation of the
Blind of Oklahoma, reports the affiliate's election results from
its recent convention: Joe Triplett, President; Nanette Murrin,
Vice President; Janet Triplett, Secretary; Steve Shelton,
Treasurer; and Chartula Sanders, Board member.
** Hoping to Find:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
I am a deaf-blind reader of the Braille Monitor. I would
appreciate receiving pass-along issues of Reader's Digest,
Popular Mechanics, Fortune, National Geographic, and The New York
Times in Braille. I am also interested in purchasing an Optacon
for a reasonable price. Send all offers in Braille to Gordon
Janz, 2425 Brunswick Street, Apartment 101, Vancouver, British
Columbia, V5T 3MI.
** Eager to Buy:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Seeking a Talking Time One clock by Sharp in good condition.
I will pay up to $50.00. If you have a clock you are interested
in selling, please call Tony Lewis at (510) 865-6171 or write
3221 Briggs Avenue, Apartment C, Alameda, California 94501.
** Perkins Brailler Repair and Resale:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Complete Perkins Brailler service: I have recently begun
purchasing, repairing, and selling old Perkins Braillers. Repair
only is available if wanted. If you have a Perkins Brailler that
is feeling poorly or if you have an old Perkins that you would
like to sell, contact Nino Pacini (evenings and weekends) at
(313) 885-7330. Trade-ins are accepted, and payment plans are
negotiable.
** Elected:
At its April 12, 1995, chapter meeting, the Potomac Chapter
of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia elected the
following officers: Larry Povinelli, President; Patty Droppers,
First Vice President; Seville Allen, Second Vice President; Bob
Hartt, Treasurer; Melissa Resnick, Recording Secretary; Carol
Cooper, Corresponding Secretary; and Jerry Yeager, Susan
Povinelli, and Louise Ruhf, Board members.
** For Sale:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Twenty-three 11«-inch by 11-inch three-ringed Braille
notebooks, $5 each. Twenty boxes 11-inch by 11«-inch lightweight,
rough draft Braille computer paper, $20 per box. Send checks and
requests to Janet Cross, c/o 523 Old Forest Way, Panama City,
Florida 32404 or call (904) 874-8401. To avoid shipping charges,
orders will be sent Free Matter.
** Recorded Computer Magazine Available:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Computer Folks, a magazine for blind computer users by blind
computer users, offers twelve monthly issues, each on a 60-minute
cassette, for only $24. Your host is Richard Ring. He may offer
basic DOS tips for the beginner, as well as a technical
demonstration of new adaptive software for the more advanced
listener. The magazine features interviews with vendors of the
latest equipment for the blind, yet the main interest is not
public relations for companies, but the ideas, questions, and
concerns of readers. Subscribers' articles, letters, and want ads
are welcomed. From the housewife to the college professor, we are
all computer folks.
Send $2 for a sample magazine or $24 for a year's
subscription to Richard Ring, 269 Terhune Avenue, Passaic, New
Jersey 07055-3326, or call (201) 471-4211 evenings or weekends.
Computer Folks is not a print magazine read onto a tape by
someone with no knowledge of computers and no involvement in the
blind community. Usually serious, sometimes witty, Computer Folks
is not just for the folks at 269 Terhune Avenue. From Canada to
California, we are all computer folks.
** Hoping to Buy:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
I am interested in purchasing microwave cookbooks in Grade
II Braille. Readers of the Monitor may contact Jolene Cardenas at
2713B Piliwai Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819, or call (808) 843-
2611.
** Elected:
At its mid-winter election, conducted by mail, the Members-
at-large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
elected the following officers: Elizabeth Haag, President; Ruth
Hinch, Vice President; Betty Jackson, Secretary; Martha Hays,
Treasurer; and Wayne Ingle, monthly cassette newsletter editor.
** In Memoriam:
We recently received the following letter from Karl Smith,
President of the National Federation of the Blind of Utah:
The National Federation of the Blind consists of many
different kinds of people--speakers, expounders, organizers,
pioneers, and more. Behind these highly visible people there
exists a core of stalwart, steady members who, without publicity
or fanfare, go about the business of changing attitudes about
blindness in their neighborhoods and towns and with everyone with
whom they come in contact.
Conrad Salvesen, who died in early February, was one of these steady, faithful
members of the NFB. He was a member long before I ever heard of the Federation,
and because of him and his wife Virginia my life and the lives of countless
other blind people are better than they might have been. Con was not loud; he
did not stand out in a crowd. But you can bet that, if there was a crowd, he
would be part of it. Con loved to attend national and state conventions and
kept up on the issues by faithfully reading the Braille Monitor. He encouraged
others to become part of the Federation and in other ways touched many lives
in his own quiet way. Conrad won't be at this year's state convention in May
or the national convention in July. He will be missed by all of us. I hope we
can take a lesson from Con's example. Let us all try to change what it means
to be blind for ourselves and for the generations to come.
** Elected:
Olivia Ostergaard, Past President of the Fresno Chapter of
the National Federation of the Blind of California, reports the
following election results: Toni Eames, President; Lyrue Taylor,
Vice President; Jan Kafton, Secretary; Ed Eames, Treasurer; and
Olivia Ostergaard and Rosemary Hickey, Board members.
** For Sale:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
Artic Vision 215 speech board, version 3.04 with WinVision
software included, four years old and works fine. Price $280.
Contact James De Marr at e-mail address: [email protected] or call
(319) 355-5597, or write to him at 803 Hillside Drive,
Bettendorf, Iowa 52722.